The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) requesting a court-monitored investigation and forensic audit of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The petitioner sought preservation of evidence like CCTV footage and digital payment logs related to offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The court assured the petitioner that the matter would be listed by the apex court registry for a future date.
The PIL aims to address alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and calls for transparency in the administration of temple offerings. It also requests a sealed status report from an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and an independent forensic audit of all donations received by the Trust. The petitioner clarified that the petition focuses on the secular administration of donations without interfering in religious matters.
The plea highlights recent developments, including the formation of a three-member SIT by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate irregularities in temple funds. The petitioner emphasized the importance of preserving evidence and ensuring transparency in handling public temple donations. The court is expected to address the issue of temple donations and offerings at a later date.
