Missing files of Puri Jagannath Temple traced: Odisha Law Department

Bhubaneswar: After reported disappearance of two files of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) triggered a row, the Odisha government clarified that both the files and have been traced.

Putting an end to speculations, Law department principal secretary Dhaneswar Mallick said the files were not traceable and directions were issued to find them. “It is clarified that the files have been found,” he said in a statement.

Official sources said that both the files had got mixed up with other routine files for which it was difficult to trace them. Earlier, the matter relating to the untraceable files came to the fore after a deputy secretary of the department wrote to all the sections under it to locate those two files on a priority basis.

The files will be reportedly used for compliance with an order of the Orissa High Court. The department letter read, “Two files of JTA Section bearing No. JTA-55/2006(pt) and JTA-06/2014 are untraceable in the records of JTA Section. Therefore, it is hereby requested to all sections of this Department to conduct search operation in their records on a priority basis and submit the said files, if available, to JTA Section immediately for compliance with the order of the High Court.”

It may be noted here that the opposition political parties and others had launched a scathing attack on the state government over the issue accusing it of neglecting matters relating to Lord Jagannath.

Opposition BJP had lodged a complaint at the Capital police station in Bhubaneswar on Friday regarding the two files going untraceable.