Bhubaneswar, October 4: The book titled “Is ‘Ekharajat Mahal’ not an integral part of Republic India?” authored by Surendra Kumar Mishra, a retired Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, was launched in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. The book delves into the contentious and unresolved issue of the ‘Ekharajat Mahal’, a significant land dispute in the Jatni area of Odisha that has been ongoing since 2012.
Historical Background of the Dispute
The dispute traces its roots back to 1974, when the land that now forms part of the Ekharajat Mahal was vested with the Odisha state government. The tenants, known as Rayats, from 36 villages in the area had been paying land revenue to the state for decades and were recognized as legitimate tenants. However, in 2012, a controversial government order stripped these tenants of their rights and transferred the ownership of the land to the Shree Jagannath Temple.
This shift led to a prolonged legal battle between the tenants and the temple administration. Surendra Kumar Mishra, who had served as the Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in Puri, meticulously explores the historical context of the Ekharajat Mahal and the rightful claims of the landowners (Rayats). According to Mishra, the tenants have been unjustly deprived of their constitutional property rights despite having lived on and worked the land for generations.
The Flawed 2012 Order
The crux of the dispute lies in the 2012 order, which Mishra claims was issued by bureaucrats with vested interests. This order effectively prohibited the tenants from selling or purchasing land that was legally recorded in their names. These Rayats have faced tremendous hardship due to this erroneous ruling, which, according to Mishra, was a result of faulty decisions by settlement officers and government officials.
The book also emphasizes that the Shree Jagannath Temple administration has been asserting exclusive ownership over the entire estate, citing certain court judgments to back its claims. Mishra, however, argues that this action infringes upon the tenants’ rights protected under the Indian Constitution, specifically Articles 13, 14, 26, 31-A(1), 31-B, 246, 294, and 300A, which guarantee the right to property and equality before the law.
Legal and Historical Perspectives
Biranchi Narayan Rath, former District Judge, who presided over the book release event, shed light on the legal aspects of the dispute. Rath explained that the Ekharajat Mahal comprises 156 villages that were part of the erstwhile Tapanga Pragana. During the land settlement campaign in 2012, the rights of tenants from 120 villages were duly recorded, while the rights of tenants in 36 villages were erroneously transferred to the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Puri. Rath termed this a “blunder” and not just a simple mistake by revenue officials. He further noted that this land dispute has yet to be challenged in any court of law.
Rabi Narayan Routray, a Senior Advocate, provided the historical backdrop of the land. Routray clarified that the Ekharajat Mahal land was originally vested with the state government on March 18, 1974. Before this, the Raja of Khurda had collected land revenue from tenants, but in 1974, the state government assumed control over the land. Routray emphasized that the land in question does not belong to the Shree Jagannath Temple as Amrutmahani land but was allocated to the Raja of Khurda by the British government in 1863.
Suresh Kumar Routray, a former minister and six-time MLA from Jatni, expressed his frustration over the prolonged nature of the dispute, which has been ongoing for over 13 years. He criticized the previous government's inaction and stated that over one lakh people have been deprived of their rightful land due to the negligence of government officials. Routray added that the issue had been presented to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, but no progress had been made so far.
Biswa Ranjan Badjena, the BJP President of Khurda District, echoed similar sentiments. He mentioned that along with Bhubaneswar MP Aparajat Sarangi and local leaders, he had met CM Majhi twice. During these meetings, the CM assured them that necessary steps would be taken in favor of the tenants.
The Way Forward
The author Mishra has underscored the issue from a legal perspective and urged the Odisha government to resolve this matter at the earliest. He stressed that the tenants of the 36 affected villages should be treated equally to the tenants of the other 120 villages, as recommended by two high-powered committees formed in 2020-21 by the previous BJD government. These committees had confirmed the rightful claims of the tenants, but despite their recommendations, no concrete action had been taken to date.
At the book release ceremony, leaders and legal experts expressed hope that CM Mohan Charan Majhi would bring justice to the affected tenants and restore their land ownership. The attendees emphasized the need to update the Record of Rights to reflect the legitimate claims of these tenants, ensuring that their rights are recognized and protected.
A Long-Awaited Resolution
The ongoing dispute over the Ekharajat Mahal land, which affects thousands of people in the Jatni region, is one of Odisha’s most complex land-related issues. The release of this book has brought renewed attention to the matter, with hopes that the state government will take immediate and decisive action to resolve the long-standing dispute. The assurances from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offer a glimmer of hope to the affected tenants, who have been waiting for justice for over a decade.
The residents of Jatni, who have long been deprived of their rightful land, now look to the Odisha government for a fair and just resolution, which would not only restore their ownership but also reaffirm their constitutional rights.
