Bhubaneswar: The Odisha cabinet on Monday approved the Shree Jagannath Temple Land Management Rules, 2026, replacing the Uniform Policy of 2003 and its 2019 amendment. The new regulations create a fully online framework for settling and administering lands associated with the Shree Jagannath Temple (SJT), officials said.
Digital portal to drive settlements and transparency
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the new rules are intended to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in management of temple lands through technology. The state will move to a portal-based system for receiving, verifying and disposing of applications related to SJT properties, integrating records with existing revenue maps.
Chief secretary Anu Garg said the new rules are aimed at bringing greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in the administration of temple lands through a technology-driven framework.
At district level, a District Level Land Sub-Committee (DLSC) chaired by the collector will examine applications. A specialised Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Bhumi Sanchalan Sub-Committee will assist in scrutiny and verification. The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee retains the power to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) required for settlements.
Valuation, GIS mapping and public dashboard
The rules prescribe a uniform approach to valuing properties: settlements will use the higher of the Benchmark Value (BMV) or the Average Land Sale Statistics (ALSS) depending on beneficiary category, including sevayats, maths and non-sevayats. For small commercial parcels, the rules specify an elevated multiplier.
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Valuation baseline | Higher of BMV or ALSS |
| Commercial land up to 0.250 acres | Valued at four times BMV or ALSS (whichever is higher) |
To protect temple assets, the government will carry out GIS-based digital mapping and compile an inventory of all SJT lands. That database is to be linked with the Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s Bhulekh and Bhunaksha portals and made available through a publicly accessible dashboard for real-time updates, officials said. The integrated system is expected to strengthen detection of unauthorised occupation and improve monitoring of litigation over temple properties.
Safeguards, cancellation and appeals
The rules include measures to guard against fraudulent settlements. Any allotment obtained through fraud, misrepresentation or forged documents may be cancelled by the temple managing committee. Violators could face civil and criminal proceedings under applicable laws.
For disputes and grievances, the state has provided an appellate mechanism. A high-level committee led by the principal secretary of the law department will hear appeals filed by aggrieved parties against decisions taken under the new regime. The rules will become operational after their official publication in the Gazette.
What this means locally and for stakeholders
- Sevayats, maths and other beneficiaries will have a standardised online route to apply for settlements, reducing physical paperwork and the need for multiple departmental visits.
- Integration with Bhulekh and Bhunaksha should allow claimants and the public to view land records and track case status online; this may help curb encroachment and unauthorised transfers.
- Higher valuation for small commercial blocks (up to 0.250 acres) may affect cost of settlements where commercial use is involved.
Officials said the move to a technology-led mechanism is aimed at streamlining administration and making information accessible. The digital inventory and dashboard are also intended to serve as deterrents to land grabbing, enabling quicker detection of irregularities and a planned response through revenue and disaster-management mapping systems.
Practical steps for residents and claimants
Residents with interests in SJT lands or those seeking settlements should prepare to:
- Submit applications via the designated online portal once it is launched and retain digital acknowledgements.
- Check documented titles and land records on Bhulekh and Bhunaksha to verify details before applying.
- Keep original proofs ready for verification and be vigilant against intermediaries promising faster settlements through informal routes.
The new rules are a significant administrative shift for management of one of Odisha’s most sensitive and valuable land portfolios. Implementation details including the portal launch date, standard operating procedures for the DLSCs and timelines for the GIS mapping exercise will be announced by relevant departments following publication of the rules.
Reporting from Bhubaneswar.
