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Orissa High Court

Sri Sri Jagannath Temple Trust vs State Of Odisha And Others .... Opposite ... on 29 November, 2025

Bench: K.R. Mohapatra, Murahari Sri Raman

                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
                                  WP(C) No.22784 of 2025
                 Sri Sri Jagannath Temple Trust  ....           Petitioners
                 and another
                                       Mr. Ashok Kumar Sarangi, Advocate
                                           -versus-
                 State of Odisha and others         ....      Opposite Parties
                                         Mr. Manmaya Kumar Dash, ASC for
                                                Opposite Party Nos.1, 4 and 5
                                           Ms. Pratyusha Naidu, Advocate for
                                                    Opposite Party Nos.2 & 3


                              CORAM:
                       JUSTICE K.R. MOHAPATRA
                       JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN
                                       ORDER

Order No.                             29.11.2025

   05.      1.       This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

2. Ms. Naidu, learned counsel representing the Additional Assistant Commissioner of Endowment, Sambalpur submits that she has received instruction. She, however, prays for a short adjournment to file a detailed counter affidavit for just adjudication of the writ petition. It is her submission that pursuant to the appointment of Non-hereditary Trust Board, charge of the Management of the Religious Institution, namely, Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu Temple, At-Fertilizer Township, Rourkela has already been taken over by the Non-hereditary Trust Board.

3. Mr. Sarangi, learned counsel for the Petitioners, however, submits that the Petitioners have not yet handed over the charge of the Institution.

4. In view of the power conferred under Section 12 of the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951 (for brevity, "the Act"), an Officer being so authorized may enter into the Religious Institution for exercise of power under the Act. Thus, non- cooperation of the Petitioners to handover the charge to a statutory body will not have any effect on the management of the Religious Institution by the Non-hereditary Trust Board.

5. In view of the submission of Ms. Naidu, learned counsel for the Opposite Party Nos.2 and 3, the matter stands adjourned to be listed on 15th December, 2025. Counter affidavit by the Additional Assistant Commissioner of Endowment, Sambalpur shall be filed in the meantime serving copy thereof on the learned counsel for the Petitioners.

(K.R. Mohapatra) Judge (M.S. Raman) Judge MRS/Laxmikant Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: LAXMIKANT MOHAPATRA Designation: Senior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 29-Nov-2025 16:05:23 Page 2 of 2