Ram Mandir Donations Row: Supreme Court Declines Urgent Listing Of Plea Seeking SIT Probe

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a plea seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

A partial Court working days Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu directed that the matter be listed immediately after the Court reopens, after the petitioner, appearing in person, mentioned the case for urgent listing.

During the mentioning, the petitioner submitted that the allegations concerning the alleged misappropriation of temple funds were of a serious nature and warranted immediate consideration. Justice Sundresh, however, questioned the urgency of the matter.

When asked why the case required urgent hearing, the petitioner responded that "the way the State is dealing with the matter...casts doubts..."

The Bench was not persuaded to take up the matter during the partial Court working days and directed that it be listed after the Court reopens.

The petition seeks directions to the Union Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to take appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of devotees and donors.

It states that irrespective of whether the allegations of missing funds and other irregularities are ultimately substantiated, the reports have caused widespread concern among those who contributed to or supported the Ram Mandir movement.

"Whether or not the reports regarding missing funds and other alleged irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are ultimately found to be true, such reports have caused deep concern among the generations that struggled for the restoration of the glory of Ayodhya," the petition states.

A separate petition raising similar allegations has also been filed by Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami.

Case Title: Ajay Kumar Rai v. Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, WP (Crl.) No. 241/26