The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored probe and forensic audit into the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust over alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
When the matter was mentioned before a Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu, the petitioner argued that the allegations raised in the plea were "very serious" and sought an urgent listing. However, questioning the urgency, the Bench asked, "What's the urgency?" and directed that the matter be listed after the Supreme Court reopens following the summer vacation.
The PIL, filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami in his personal capacity, seeks a court-monitored investigation, a forensic audit of donations, preservation of records, CCTV footage and digital logs relating to offerings made at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The petition argues that donations made to a public temple constitute sacred trust property and that those handling them are legally bound by duties of transparency, accountability and preservation.
It also seeks the formulation of minimum constitutional safeguards to ensure transparent handling of donations and offerings at temples of national importance. The plea clarified that it concerns only the secular administration of donations and does not seek interference in religious rituals or customs.
The petition was filed following recent allegations of irregularities, misappropriation and mishandling of temple donations after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into the alleged donation misappropriation continues. Police recently recovered jewellery and documents during searches conducted at the residences of the eight accused arrested in the case. The FIR was registered based on a complaint by a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust after a preliminary SIT report flagged multiple irregularities. The accused have been remanded to judicial custody, while investigators continue examining CCTV footage and other evidence.
In a parallel development, the Faizabad Bar Association has unanimously resolved that none of its members will represent the eight accused in the alleged Ram Temple donation case. The Bar Association also decided to impose a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on any member who chooses to appear on behalf of the accused.
According to reports, the association said the alleged misappropriation of donations made by devotees had deeply hurt public sentiments and the legal fraternity. Some reports also stated that the Bar Association warned the accused to leave Ayodhya within three days, though those developments remain part of the association's resolution and are separate from the ongoing judicial proceedings.
