Supreme Court Denies Petition for Buddhist Control of Mahabodhi Temple

Supreme Court's Ruling on Mahabodhi Temple Management

On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that sought to transfer the management of the Mahabodhi Mahavira temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, to the Buddhist community, as reported by a legal news source.

The petition was filed by Sulekha Kumbhare, a former Minister of State, who requested changes to the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949.

This legislation stipulates that a committee appointed by the Bihar government is responsible for overseeing the management and administration of the Mahabodhi temple and its assets.

According to the act, the committee must consist of eight members chosen by the state, with four of them being Hindus. The district magistrate, who must also be Hindu, serves as the committee's chairman.

Earlier in February, a group of Buddhist monks initiated an indefinite hunger strike in Bodh Gaya, advocating for complete control of the temple.

This movement sparked protests across several states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, culminating in a significant rally in Bodh Gaya on March 18 and 19.

A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran stated that the plea under Article 32 of the Constitution could not be directly addressed by the Supreme Court, as reported by another legal news outlet. The court advised the petitioner to seek recourse through the Patna High Court.

Article 32 allows individuals to approach the Supreme Court to enforce their fundamental rights.

The petitioner contended that the management of the temple by Buddhists was essential to prevent violations of fundamental rights under Articles 25, 26, and 29.

These articles pertain to fundamental rights concerning religion.

Article 25 ensures the freedom of conscience and the right to practice and propagate religion.

Article 26 grants religious groups the authority to manage their own affairs.

Article 29 safeguards minority rights, allowing them to preserve their language, script, or culture and prohibits discrimination in educational institutions based on religion, race, caste, or language.

The Mahabodhi temple is one of the four significant sites linked to the Buddha and is venerated by followers of Buddhism, as it is believed to be the location where Buddha attained enlightenment. Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BC as a response to the ritualistic and caste-based practices prevalent in Hinduism.