HC quashes order of Endowments Commissioner

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Friday quashed the order passed by the Commissioner of Endowments instituting the interim managing trustee for the Emar Mutt at Puri. The Mutt was in the news after 522 silver ingots worth over ` 90 crore had been seized in February.
The single-judge Bench of Justice MM Das has directed the Commissioner to reconstitute the Trust Board with inclusion of Government officials and eminent personalities of Puri. The new Board will manage the affairs of the Mutt. The Court has also permitted the unseated hereditary Mahant Rajgopal Ramanuja Das to reside on the Mutt premises and conduct worship and other rituals as per customs and traditions. He, however, cannot interfere in management of the Mutt, the Court ruled. The directives came in response to a petition filed by the Mahant challenging the constitution of the Trust Board as well as denial of permission to him for conduct of worship and other rituals of the Mutt.