Orissa high Court issues notice to SJTA over cancellation of stone quarry lease

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court's Vacation Court on Friday issued notice to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on the issue of cancellation of the lease of its Sankhari South New Building Stone Quarry (CHHA), in Khurda district's Kaipada area, and blacklisting of the private leaseholder from participating in any future auction.

The lease of the Stone Quarry of Jagannath Temple was cancelled for alleged lapses and violations on the part of the leaseholder.

The authorities had forfeited the leaseholder's security deposits to SJTA and ordered recovery of Rs 3.24 crore towards land revenue in notices issued on December 28, 2022, and August 2, 2023.

The Vacation Bench of Justices S K Sahoo and M S Raman also issued notices to the Additional Secretary Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Collector & District Magistrate (Khurda), Sub Collector (Khurda), and Tahasildar (Khurda).