The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear multiple petitions on July 20 regarding allegations of financial irregularities in donations to the Ayodhya Ram temple. The court has requested a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team and a formal response from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Supreme Court of India is preparing to review petitions concerning alleged financial irregularities in the collection and management of donations for the Ayodhya Ram temple. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, is scheduled to hear these consolidated matters on July 20.
Court-Ordered Reporting and Oversight
During previous proceedings on July 13, the court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), established by the Uttar Pradesh government, to submit a detailed status report on the ongoing inquiry. Additionally, the court has mandated that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the temple, file a formal response addressing the allegations brought forward by the petitioners.
Scope of Investigatory Demands
The petitions before the court include several requests for higher-level oversight. Petitioners such as Narendra Kumar Goswami have requested an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a financial audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Other joint petitions from individuals including Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav have similarly sought a multi-agency probe led by the CBI. Additionally, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and the Hindu Dharma Parishad have separately petitioned for a court-monitored investigation and a forensic audit of the Trust's financial records.
Background of the SIT Formation
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the current SIT on June 13 to investigate the claims of misappropriation. This formation followed a request initiated by the temple trust itself, which sought an official review of the allegations. The SIT is led by a panel including Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. The upcoming hearing on July 20 will be determined by the evidence provided in the SIT’s status report and the Trust's reply regarding the management of temple funds.