Senior IAS officer Arabinda Padhee has been appointed the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri. This assignment comes as the current Chief Administrator, Vir Vikram Yadav, takes a 21-day leave for a personal trip to Canada.
Arabinda Padhee, a 1996-batch IAS officer, will hold the SJTA position in addition to his existing responsibilities as the principal secretary of the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department and the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department. Padhee officially assumed his new role on Friday, ensuring that the administration of the revered Shree Jagannath Temple continues smoothly in Yadav’s absence.
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Yadav, who is also the principal secretary of the Works Department and holds additional charge as the principal secretary of the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department, was granted leave from May 22. The General Administration Department of Odisha issued a notification detailing the temporary administrative changes.
In another key administrative adjustment, Hemant Sharma, a 1995-batch IAS officer, will temporarily oversee the Works Department and the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department. Sharma, who currently serves as the principal secretary of the Industries Department, will manage these additional duties during Yadav’s leave period.
Stepping into this sacred role is not just a duty, but a profound privilege to serve the divine and the community. I am honored to lead Shree Jagannath Temple with dedication, integrity, and reverence for its timeless heritage.”
– Arabinda Padhee
These changes are part of the Odisha government’s efforts to ensure uninterrupted governance and administration across key departments, reflecting a proactive approach to handling senior officials’ temporary absences.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration plays a crucial role in managing one of India’s most significant religious sites, and the state government’s swift action ensures that its operations remain unaffected during this transition.
