By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved orders in the petitions filed alleging illegal excavation and construction work by the Odisha Government at the iconic Shree Jagannath Temple premises at Puri. The Court will pronounce orders tomorrow.
A vacation bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Hima Kohli was considering two special leave petitions filed challenging Odisha High Court’s order refusing to restrain the State from carrying out any excavation in and around Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri.
Ashok Kumar Parija, Advocate General of Odisha, submitted that the authority under the AMASR Act is the National Monuments Authority and Director Culture of the State of Odisha has been notified as the competent authority. The AG said that the activities undertaken by the State do not come within the purview of “construction” as per the Act.
The petitioners have challenged Orissa High Court’s order refusing to restrain the state government from carrying out construction.
