Odisha Government Considers Legal Action Over 'Dham' Title for Digha Temple

Controversy Surrounds Digha's Jagannath Temple

Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced that the Odisha government is contemplating legal measures regarding the designation of the newly opened Jagannath temple in Digha, West Bengal, as a 'dham'. Harichandan mentioned that consultations with legal advisors are currently taking place, and a resolution will be reached shortly. He noted, “We are still awaiting a response from the West Bengal government regarding our correspondence. We are exploring our legal options concerning the use of the 'dham' title for the Digha temple.”

On May 6, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi sent a letter to West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to avoid referring to the Digha temple as 'dham'. Banerjee had inaugurated the temple on April 30, labeling it as 'Jagannath Dham', which has led to significant controversy in Odisha. Harichandan expressed concern that despite the passage of ten days since the letter was sent, there has been no reply from Banerjee. The Odisha government, along with two Shankaracharyas, asserts that only the historic Jagannath temple in Puri holds the right to be called a 'dham'. Previously, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri and chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), had voiced strong objections to the Digha temple being labeled as 'dham'.