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The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored investigation and forensic audit into the handling of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust over alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
A Bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu questioned the urgency after advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami requested an immediate hearing, arguing that the allegations were serious and expressing concerns over the state’s handling of the matter.
The Bench directed that the petition be listed after the court reopens following the summer vacation.
Filed by Goswami in his personal capacity, the petition seeks directions to preserve records relating to donations and offerings made at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple while ensuring greater transparency in the administration of temple funds.
The plea argues that offerings made to a deity in a public temple constitute sacred trust property vested in the deity as a juristic person. It contends that those managing such offerings have a fiduciary duty to maintain transparency, accountability and proper preservation of records.
The petition also seeks immediate preservation of all records, CCTV footage, digital logs and other evidence linked to donations and offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
The petition also seeks constitutional safeguards for transparent management of donations at temples of national importance and limits itself to the secular administration of funds.
Police recovered jewellery and documents from the homes of the eight accused after an FIR based on a preliminary SIT report.
The accused remain in judicial custody as the investigation continues.
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