Cuttack: Orissa High Court on Wednesday sought from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) a status report on the roof ceiling of the corridor near Jay Vijay Dwar or entrance to Jagmohan and that above the Garuda Stamba inside Natmandap of the Jagannath temple in Puri.

The court was monitoring the renovation work undertaken by the ASI at the temple as part of adjudication of a PIL seeking intervention for effective and timely completion of Jagmohan repair. Cuttack resident Abhisek Das filed the PIL. It was taken up first on June 8 last year. The court issued the order after taking note of a report submitted by the commission of inquiry.

The court had appointed an accredited engineer, Nagendra Kumar Mohanty (also an advocate), as commission of inquiry to make time to time spot assessment of the progress of the Jagmohan renovation.

Mohanty on Wednesday submitted a report, indicating that refurbishing work of the corbels of the Jagmohan's roof ceiling undertaken after installation of the stainless steel portal frame to support the cracked stone beams inside the prayer hall "have been completed in all respects".

In his report, Mohanty, however, pointed out that the condition of the roof ceiling of the corridor near the Jay Vijay Dwar and that above the Garuda Stamba needed urgent attention. "Taking note of the report, the division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice B.R. Sarangi posted the matter to November 15 for hearing, along with ASI's status report," central government counsel Chandrakanta Pradhan said.

"The court expected the ASI to submit by then a report on steps being taken in connection with the roof ceilings on the corridor near the Jay Vijay Dwar and above the Garuda Stamba," Pradhan said.

ASI superintendent (Bhubaneswar circle) H.A. Nayak and the public works department's chief engineer (buildings) Satya Ranjan Sethi on Wednesday filed the status reports, indicating that renovation work inside the Jagmohan was completed in all respects on October 20.

In his report, Mohanty pointed out that corbel joints and stone beams of the corridor roof near the Jagmohan entrance had opened up and cracked. Cracks had also appeared on the roof above the Garuda Stamba. "The cracks appear to be localised in nature. This should be inspected in detail for taking up appropriate conservation before the situation becomes alarming," Mohanty said in his report.