HC orders part demolition of Badachhata Mutt

CUTTACK: The Badachhata Mutt is set to meet the fate of Chhauni Mutt as the Orissa High Court on Monday ordered its part demolition to protect the Meghnad Pacheri (boundary wall) and the Lions Gate (Singhadwar) of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri. A Division Bench of Justices BP Das and Sanju Panda delivered its final order directing that there should be a clear 10-foot gap between the temple boundary wall and the Badachhata Mutt structure.  The Mutt is located on northern side of Lions Gate contiguous to the Meghnad Pacheri. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will demolish the structure contiguous to the boundary wall and create the gap. It will also demolish the first floor of the Mutt in a scientific manner ensuring that the remaining part of the building is unaffected. The work should be completed in two months, the Bench ordered. The demolition order for the upper floor of the Mutt has come on security considerations as the Temple is easily accessible from the roof of the Mutt.  Earlier on March 15, another Bench of Justices PK Mohanty and I Mohanty had ordered partial demolition of the Chhauni Mutt on southern side of the main entrance. Both the mutts have been stated to have not only posed serious threat to the boundary wall structure by virtue of being contiguous to it but also prevented repair works on the Lions Gate. Justices PK Mohanty and I Mohanty had even visited the Jagannath Temple for an on-the-spot assessment. Both the mutts had moved the High Court contesting the ASI notice issued for demolition of the structures. The ASI had contended that the structures were exerting pressure on the boundary wall and gradually weakening it while the impact was already being felt on the Lions Gate. Repair works on the Lions Gate, which has developed cracks, could not be undertaken due to the encroachment by the mutts, the ASI had contended. The court had earlier 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 mutts on the Temple structure. The Committee had also recommended demolition of the mutts.