A servitor of Puri Jagannath Temple on Monday demanded that the Government open the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) and make public deposits of gold, diamonds and precious jewels inside it.

Reacting over a hearing on the Jagannath Temple in Supreme Court (SC) scheduled for January 8 next year, Daitapati servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra made the demand and said the gold, diamond and jewels which have been protected in the Ratna Bhandar should be recounted and made public in order to clear the air about their safety.

He also urged that the Government make public the inquiry report of the missing key of Ratna Bhandar which has already been submitted by the Raghubir Das Commission.

However, the temple administration stated that the shrine’s managing committee would take a decision whether or not to open the treasure trove.

On January 9, the Government will submit a report at the SC about decision of the temple managing committee and the inquiry report of Raghubir Das Commission. The SC Bench is likely to give an order to the Government for unlocking of Ratna Bhandar, it is presumed.

Reportedly, as many as 629 kinds of gold, diamond, silver and coloured jewels exist in the Ratna Bhandar. While 598 types of ornaments have been protected in the inner chamber, the rest are kept in the outer room for uses in attires of the Lords. In 1926 and 1978, enumeration works had been conducted. After checking of the jewelleries in treasure trove in 1978, which took 70 days to complete, a 142-page booklet containing their numbers and types had been prepared by the Government.