Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently hear a petition 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 Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu, functioning during the Court’s partial working days, directed that the matter be listed after the Court reopens. The order came after the petitioner, appearing in person, requested an urgent listing.
During the mentioning, the petitioner argued that the allegations of financial irregularities involving temple donations required immediate judicial intervention. Justice Sundresh, however, questioned the urgency of the plea. The petitioner replied that the manner in which the authorities were handling the issue had raised serious concerns, but the Bench remained unconvinced and deferred the hearing.
The petition seeks directions to the Union Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government, and the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to safeguard the interests of devotees and donors by ensuring an impartial investigation into the allegations.
It states that reports of missing funds and alleged financial irregularities have shaken the confidence of people who contributed to or supported the Ram Mandir movement, regardless of whether the claims are eventually proven.
The plea also notes that similar allegations have been raised in a separate petition filed before the Supreme Court by Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami.