Supreme Court Takes Up Ram Temple Donation Irregularities
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The PIL, filed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, alleges that donations worth crores of rupees have been misappropriated by the trust and demands a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
PIL Alleges Misuse of Devotees' Donations
The petitioner claimed that the trust collected over Rs 3,000 crore in donations from devotees across the country but failed to account for a significant portion of these funds. The PIL further alleged that the trust violated its own bylaws by not maintaining proper financial records and that the money was diverted to other projects unrelated to the temple construction. According to Jain, the trust's financial statements for the past three years show discrepancies of over Rs 500 crore.
Court's Response and Next Steps
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued notices to the trust, the central government, and the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking their responses within four weeks. The court also directed the trust to submit all financial records since its inception in 2020. The bench observed, "Given the magnitude of public contributions, it is imperative to ensure transparency in the utilization of funds. If the allegations are substantiated, a thorough investigation is warranted."
Trust Denies Wrongdoing
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, in a statement, denied all allegations of financial irregularities. Trust secretary Champat Rai said, "All donations are utilized solely for the temple construction and related activities. The accounts are audited annually by a reputed firm. The allegations are baseless and politically motivated." The trust also claimed that it has already submitted its financial statements to the Income Tax Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Background of the Ram Temple Construction
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is being built on the site where the Babri Masjid once stood. The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment in November 2019, awarded the disputed land to a trust for the construction of a Ram temple. The temple's construction began in August 2020 and is expected to be completed by December 2024. The project has received massive public support, with donations pouring in from individuals and organizations worldwide.
Political Reactions
The development has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties demanding a full inquiry. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, "The trust must come clean on the use of public money. The Supreme Court's intervention is welcome." On the other hand, BJP leaders defended the trust, calling the PIL a conspiracy to derail the temple construction. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, "The trust is functioning transparently. Any attempt to malign the temple construction will be dealt with firmly."
Next Hearing Scheduled
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for July 22, 2026, by which time the trust and the governments are expected to file their responses. The court also hinted at the possibility of appointing a forensic audit team if the responses are unsatisfactory.
