Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration on Tuesday submitted an affidavit in Orissa High Court seeking more time to open the ratna bhandar of Lord Jagannath.

Precious gold jewellery, gems, pearls and rare diamonds apart from silver and other decorative items of the temple's three presiding deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra - are stored in the ratna bhandar. The temple has received donations from devotees across the country, the most illustrious of these being kings of Odisha, Maharashtra and Punjab.

Earlier, the high court had asked the administration to complete the inspection of the ratna bhandar by Tuesday following reports that there was seepage in its walls. The administration filed the affidavit saying it required more time as it would have to complete a lot of paraphernalia relating to open the ratna bhandar.

A temple official said: "We have to create a standard operating procedure. Besides, we will have to seek approval of the Chhattisha Niyog, the confederation of 36 servitors associations. These require some more time."

The temple administration has called for a meeting of Chhattisha Niyog on March 29 to deliberate on the issue.

However, it has made it clear that it would not make any inventory of the jewellery, but would only repair the ceiling and walls of the treasury.

A team from the Archaeological Survey of India on Tuesday inspected the treasury from outside and examined its condition. It also made it clear that it would not be able to assess its condition unless its members wrere allowed to enter it.

The temple administration has also issued a press release urging people not to be misled on the issue. The treasury was first opened in 1905 and for repair work on stored jewellery. It was published at that time in the Utkaladipika.