Supreme Court Denies Immediate Hearing on Ram Temple Donation Embezzlement Case
Supreme Court's Decision on Ram Temple Case
A file image of the Supreme Court (Photo: @IANS)
New Delhi, Jun 29: On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing regarding a petition that demands a thorough and timely investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu stated that the case would be scheduled for discussion after the summer recess.
"There is no immediate crisis. What is the urgency?" the bench remarked during the proceedings.
The petition, submitted by lawyers Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, called for a multi-disciplinary special investigation team (SIT) led by the CBI to look into the alleged financial misconduct and other illegal activities related to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Additionally, the petition requested the establishment of regulatory and audit mechanisms by the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the temple trust to protect public interests and maintain the trust of millions of devotees and donors.
"Regardless of whether the allegations of missing funds and other irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are substantiated, they have raised significant concerns among those who fought for the restoration of Ayodhya's legacy," the petition stated.
It was alleged that the SIT formed by the Uttar Pradesh government began its investigation without filing an FIR or initiating a formal criminal case.
The petition emphasized that the authenticity of claims regarding missing funds and other irregularities should be independently assessed by a professional agency equipped with the necessary expertise and resources for complex financial and criminal investigations.
"Such an inquiry would foster greater public trust compared to a preliminary investigation conducted by an SIT made up of administrative officers who may lack specialized skills in criminal investigations," the petition argued.
It further noted that the matters at hand not only involve potential criminal offenses but also directly impact the faith and sentiments of numerous devotees and the general public.
On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government established the SIT at the request of the temple trust in light of allegations regarding the misappropriation of donations received at the Ram temple.
The SIT includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IGP Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
In a related development, the Faizabad Bar Association announced on Monday that none of its members would represent the eight individuals arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of temple donations, warning that any lawyer who defies this decision would incur a penalty of Rs 5 lakh.
Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal stated, "The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments. The lawyers of Faizabad have unanimously decided not to defend the arrested individuals."
This resolution was reached during the association's general meeting after lawyers expressed their reluctance to represent the accused, citing their hurt sentiments over the alleged theft.