On Wednesday, the Orissa High Court issued a directive to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to commence repairing the Nata Mandap (dancing hall) of the 12th century Puri Shree Jagannath Temple starting from Thursday, emphasizing the need for immediate action without any additional delays.

The Orissa High Court has tasked the court-appointed Amicus Curiae with overseeing the repair progress and submitting reports every 15 days. The recent report highlighted the emergence of cracks on a beam within the Nata Mandap, as conveyed to the high court by the Amicus Curiae.

Sources indicate that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) aimed to initiate repair work on January 24, 2024. Despite this plan, the highest court rejected the plea, mandating the ASI to commence the repairs from Thursday instead.

The court has instructed the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to extend full logistic support to the ASI for the seamless progress of the Nata Mandap repair work. Additionally, the court emphasized that devotees visiting the shrine for the darshan of the deities should not encounter any inconvenience during the repair process.

Previously, on November 8, the court dismissed the ASI's affidavit regarding the Jagmohan's repair (the hall facing the sanctum sanctorum) and demanded a new submission. The court mandated the ASI to provide comprehensive details regarding the repair initiatives taken since 2017, seeking a thorough account of the steps undertaken for the renovation work.

The Amicus Curiae was appointed by the High Court in September 2022 with the responsibility of updating the court on the status of the Shree Jagannath Temple.The report submitted by the Amicus Curiae highlighted several structural concerns within the shrine, including structural cracks, localized dislodgement of stone blocks, and detached weak lime plasters. Additionally, it noted extensive corrosion of the existing wrought iron clamps in various areas of the temple.