Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under, it shall be the duty of the Committee
(1) to arrange for the proper performance of Seva- Puja and of the daily and periodical Nitis of the Temple in accordance with the record-of-rights;
(2) to provide facilities for the proper performance of worship by the pilgrims;
(3) to ensure the safe custody of the funds, valuable securities and Jewelleries and for the preservation and management of the properties vested in the Temple;
(4) to ensure maintenance of order and discipline and proper hygienic conditions in the Temple and of proper standard of cleanliness and purity in the offerings made therein;
(5) to ensure that funds of the specific and religious endowments are spent according to the wishes, so far as may be known of the donors;
(6) to make provision for the payment of suitable emoluments to its salaried staff; 1[x x x] 2[(7) to arrange for the preparation of a list of immovable properties endowed to Lord Jagannath and of trusts created for offering Bhog or of the performance of any seva in the Temple;]
(8) to prepare and implement with the prior approval of the State Government and remunerative scheme for cashew nut plantation, casuarinas plantation,/horticulture, diary farming, establishment of retail shops for sale of commodities inside the Temple or any other commercial undertaking in order to argument the resources and income of the Temple;
(9) to take steps for resumption of any building or room situated within the premises of the Temple from any person if he has ceased to render the service for the performance of which such building or room was allotted to him or if such service has become obsolete; and
(10) to do all such things as may be incidental and conducive to the efficient management of the affairs of the Temple and its endowments or to the convenience of the pilgrims.
3[15-A. Constitution of sub-committees :– (1) The Committee may constitute Sub-Committees to aid and advice the Committee in regard to all or any of the following subjects, namely:
(a) finance;
(b) Nitis; 4[x x x] 1 The Word "and" omitted by Orissa Act 17 of 1968.
2. Substituted vide Orissa Act 17 of 1968.
3. Inserted vide Orissa Act 17 of 1968.
4. Deleted vide Orissa Act 12 of 2004.
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(c) matters relating to the Ratna Bhandar 1[and] 2[(d) any other subject as may be decided by the Committee]
(2) The composition the term of office and the procedure for the conduct of business of the Sub-Committee shall be as may be prescribed.
2[15-AA. Duties of the Working Chairman :– It shall be the duty of the Working Chairman :–
(a) to ensure that the Resolutions passed by the Committee are properly implemented by the Chief Administrator;
(b) to ensure proper co-ordination between the Temple Administration, District Administration and the State Government in the administration of the affairs of the Temple; and
(c) any other duty which the State Government may from time to time assign.]
15-B. Revision of Record-of-Rights and appeal against order for revision :–
(1) 1[Chief Administrator] may, 3[either on his own motion or] on an application made in that behalf by any Sevak, other than the Raja of Puri, and after, making an enquiry in the prescribed manner, make an order effecting any change in any entry made in the record-of-rights on all or any of the following grounds, namely :–
(a) that such change is necessary in view of any new materials which have come to notice; or
(b) that any entry therein bears no relationship to the existing facts; or
(c) that any such entry is incomplete or incorrect;
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be made without giving the parties concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(2) Any person aggrieved by an order under Sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the- date of communication of the order to him, prefer an appeal before the State Government and thereupon the State Government may, after making such enquiry as may be necessary and after giving the parties concerned an opportunity of being heard, make such order as they deem fit.
(3) No order made under Sub-section (1) or under Sub-section (2) shall debar any person aggrieved thereby from establishing his right, if any, in a Court of competent jurisdiction but no Court shall have power to stay the operation of the said order pending the final disposal of the proceedings before such Court or of any appeal or application arising there from or in relation thereto.]
CASE LAWS Secs. 5, 6 and 15-B - Record-of rights in respect of temple - Incorrect entry made in Record from certain document - Description in document must prevail over incorrect entry : Kanhu Khuntia v. Padmalava Khuntia: AIR 1990 Ori. 182.
1. Substituted vide Orissa Act 12 of 2004.
2. Inserted vide Orissa Act. 12 of 2004.
3. Inserted vide Orissa Act 16 of 2003.
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