The Odisha Cabinet has approved the Shree Jagannath Temple Land Management Rules, 2026, to bring greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in the settlement of temple land spread across the state.
The rules, approved at a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, replace the Uniform Policy, 2003 and its amended 2019 version. Clear valuation norms based on benchmark value (BMV) or average land sale statistics (ALSS), whichever is higher, have been prescribed for all categories of beneficiaries, including sevakas, mathas, non-sevakas and others.
Commercial land up to 0.250 decimal will be valued at four times the BMV or ALSS, whichever is higher. Special concession has been provided for Bijesthali of mathas where idol or deity is stationed and worshipped, which are in continuous possession for 30 years.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said a fully online portal-based system will be established for receipt, verification and disposal of applications for settlement of Shree Jagannath Temple lands. A land sub-committee headed by the collector and a Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Bhumi Sanchalan Committee will be constituted at the district level for field verification and scrutiny of each application.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee will issue no objection certificates for all settlements, ensuring institutional oversight. It will be integrated with the existing Bhulekh and Bhunaksha portals for real-time updation. A high-level appeal committee headed by the principal secretary in the Law department has been constituted for hearing complaints from aggrieved parties.
The rules will come into force from the date of their publication in the Odisha Gazette and will remain in force for two years.
Odisha: Cabinet approves Shree Jagannath Temple Land Management Rules, 2026; replaces 2003 and 2019 policies; valuation based on higher of BMV or ALSS for sevakas, mathas, non-sevakas; commercial land up to 0.250 decimal valued at four times BMV or ALSS; special concession for Bijesthali of mathas with 30 years continuous possession; fully online portal for applications; district-level scrutiny committees; SJTMC issues NOCs; integrated with Bhulekh-Bhunaksha for real-time updates; high-level appeal committee headed by Law principal secretary; rules valid for two years from Gazette notification.
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