The Nirmohi Akhara has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to restructure the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, contending that the Trust, as presently constituted, is inconsistent with the spirit of the Supreme Court's 2019 Ayodhya judgment and lacks adequate accountability.

The miscellaneous application has been filed in the disposed Ayodhya title dispute proceedings, seeking implementation of the directions issued by the Constitution Bench in its November 9, 2019 judgment. The Akhara contends that while the judgment envisaged an “appropriate role” for it in the management of the temple, the scheme framed by the Central Government has effectively excluded it from both the governance of the Trust and the conduct of religious affairs.

The application has been filed by Shri Panch Ramanandi Nirmohi Akhara through its Sarpanch, Mahant and Sarvakar, Mahant Raja Ramchandracharya Ateet Guru Raghunath Das, who claims to have been appointed and recognised by a resolution dated July 5, 2026. The application states that the Akhara is a Panchayati Mutt whose decisions are taken through a democratic process by its Panchayat, and asserts that it was one of the principal parties in the Ayodhya title dispute.

According to the application, the Trust has been functioning as a “private trust” without any effective statutory oversight, contrary to the intent of the Supreme Court's judgment. It seeks reconstitution of the Trust as a public trust with an independent supervisory mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in its functioning.

The Akhara has urged the Court to direct the Central Government to suitably revise the Trust deed and reconstitute the Board of Trustees by including a supervisory board comprising members of the Ramanandi Bairagi Sampradaya. It has also sought a direction that trustees be selected from among persons of “high integrity” having historical, legal or religious connections with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi or the Ramanandi traditions.

The application further seeks restoration of what it describes as Nirmohi Akhara's traditional role in conducting and supervising rituals, sewa, bhog, puja and other religious ceremonies at the Ram Temple in accordance with long-standing Ramanandi customs. It argues that the Trust has ignored the historical religious practices followed at the site and has deprived the Akhara of the representative role contemplated by the 2019 judgment.

Referring to recent allegations regarding theft of devotees' offerings and financial irregularities, the Akhara contends that the functioning of the Trust has exposed a serious lack of accountability. It has sought appointment of an independent committee to examine whether the Centre has faithfully implemented the 2019 judgment and has also prayed for a forensic audit of the Trust's financial and property-related transactions.

In another significant prayer, the Akhara seeks restoration of the original deities of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman, which it claims were attached on January 5, 1950 and February 16, 1982, to the sanctum sanctorum, contending that the Trust had no authority in law to substitute or replace the original idols. Alternatively, it seeks restoration of the original deities to the Akhara for their proper care.

The application also seeks appointment of an independent committee to examine whether the directions contained in the Supreme Court's November 9, 2019 judgment have been faithfully implemented by the Trust. It has further prayed for appointment of a forensic auditor to conduct a forensic audit of all financial and property-related transactions undertaken by the existing Board of Trustees.

The Nirmohi Akhara is a centuries-old religious denomination belonging to the Ramanandi Bairagi tradition. It had claimed to be the shebait (manager and custodian) of the deity Ram Lalla Virajman and had instituted Suit No. 3 in the Ayodhya title dispute, seeking management and charge of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. In its landmark November 9, 2019 judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed the Akhara's suit as barred by limitation but acknowledged its long association with the disputed site. Exercising its powers under Article 142, the Constitution Bench directed the Central Government to frame a scheme for constituting a trust to manage the temple and specifically observed that “appropriate representation may be given in the Trust or body to the Nirmohi Akhara in such manner as the Central Government deems fit.” The Court also recognised that the Akhara had been in charge of worship and management of the outer courtyard before the acquisition of the disputed site in 1993 and held that its historical role deserved due consideration while framing the scheme.