Khordha Collector not competent to settle 11th century Lord Lingaraj Temple servitors’ ritual rights: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has ruled that the Collector, Khordha is not competent in accordance with law to settle the rights of Sevayats performing rituals at the Lord Lingaraj Mahaprabhu Temple Trust in Bhubaneswar.

A Division Bench of the Court in an order pronounced yesterday kept the Collector’s order in abeyance saying that “this Court feels that if the order dated 24th December, 2025 is allowed to operate, it may create future complications. Accordingly, it is directed that till the next date, the order passed by the Collector, Khordha,-cum- Lord Lingaraj Mahaprabhu Temple Trust, Bhubaneswar shall be kept in abeyance”.

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Collector Khordha, who is also the President of the Lord Lingaraj Mahaprabhu Temple Trust, Bhubaneswar does not have the competence to settle the right of any Sevayat(s) to perform any Niti. It is only the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments, Bhubaneswar, who is competent to adjudicate the dispute, if any, with regard to the Niti and right of the Sevayats.

The Collector, Khordha in the capacity of President, Shree Lingaraj Temple Trust, Bhubaneswar, took up the matter to resolve the dispute with regard to Niti of Lord Lingaraj more particularly Dugdha Melana (Khira Aauta-Ghruta Kambala) during Nabanka Bedha Niti of ensuing Makara Sankranti.

While entertaining the dispute between the Badu Sevayats and Brahaman Nijoga, the Collector went on to settle the right to perform the aforesaid Niti. The Assistant Commissioner of Endowments, Bhubaneswar is only competent under Section 41 of the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951 to adjudicate such disputes.

Although the dispute arose in the month of January, 2025, the Khurda Collector without resorting to the statutory remedy under the Act, sat on the over and passed the impugned order on 24th December, 2025, submitted the petitioner’s counsel.