Demolish disputed part of mutt: SC

CUTTACK: In a setback to Badachata Mutt, the Supreme Court has dismissed the special leave petition (SLP) filed against the demolition orders issued by the Orissa High Court.The apex court bench, comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and Surinder Singh Nijjar, expressed its disinclination to entertain the SLP filed by Baladeb Das of the mutt but directed that the High Court orders be implemented in an appropriate manner.It should be implemented in such a manner that while demolishing the structure situated within 10 feet of the Meghanad Pacheri (boundary wall of the Jagannath temple at Puri), the rest of the mutt is not damaged so as to render it unusable.Since two months have been given to the Archaeological Survey of India to carry out the demolition, the same should be undertaken with extreme care and in consultation with the mutt authorities.Particular care should be taken for reinstallation of the idols if they are required to be moved from their current location, the bench ordered.The Orissa High Court on March 19 had directed part demolition of the Badachata Mutt to separate it from the Meghanad Pacheri. There should be a clear 10 feet gap between the Jagannath temple boundary wall and the mutt structure, the bench of Justices BP Das and Sanju Panda had ordered.The Mutt is located on the northern side of Lions Gate contiguous to the Meghanad Pacheri. The structure was found to be exerting pressure on the boundary wall and causing damage. It was also hindering repair works on the Lions Gate or main entrance of the temple. The court had formed a team, headed by the Endowments Commissioner, with the Chief Architect of Odisha and the Superintending Archaeologist of ASI (Bhubaneswar Circle) as members, to study the impact of the Badachata Mutt and Chhauni Mutt on the temple wall. While the committee recommended demolition of the mutts, Justices PK Mohanty and I Mohanty of the HC had also visited the Jagannath Temple for an on-the-spot assessment.