Nirmohi Akhara moves Supreme Court for reconstituting Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, restoration of 1950 and 1982 idols

Hindu religious denomination Nirmohi Akhara (petitioner) has approached the Supreme Court seeking reconstitution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body which manages the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, as a public trust.

The petitioner has also sought a forensic audit of all financial and property transactions effected by its board of trustees.

Further, it has sought restoration of the 1950 and 1982 idols installed at the site in place of the newly consecrated idol.

The application has been filed as part of the case of M Siddiq (D) Thr LRs v. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors, the same matter in which a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had in November 2019 decided the Ayodhya title dispute in favour of the deity Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla Virajman and directed the Central government to set up a trust for construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site.

The application has been filed in the wake of the recent controversy surrounding the embezzlement of public donations meant for Ram Mandir.

The Akhara has submitted that despite passage of almost 7 years, implementation of the 2019 judgment has not materialised in its true letter and spirit.

The application states that a private trust was established with some named members and some occupying posts ex-officio, and that some of them may have indulged in corrupt acts in relation to the property of the Deity.

The trust, as presently constituted, has consequently become virtually a private body exercising unfettered and unaccountable authority over what is essentially a public religious endowment held for the deity, the plea states.

The application has referred to the recent allegations of large-scale embezzlement of cash and valuables offered by devotees, which necessitated the constitution of a Special Investigation Team by the State government.

It notes that the resignations of the trust's general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra were accepted on July 6.

The Akhara has also contended that its solitary seat on the trust was filled by the unilateral nomination of Mahant Dinendra Das who was neither selected nor nominated as per the practice of the Nirmohi Akhara.

On the deities, the application submits that the consecration of another idol in place of the original deity fundamentally alters the subject matter of the litigation and exceeds the authority of the trust.

Hence, the plea has sought restoration of the original idols attached in 1950 and 1982 to the sanctum sanctorum.

The Akhara has clarified that the application does not seek to reopen or re-agitate the findings of the 2019 judgment.

Among other prayers, it has sought directions that all rituals, sewa, bhog and puja at the temple be conducted strictly according to the Ramanandi Sampradaya,

It has further sought guiding principles for appointment of trustees as well as adequate representation to the Akhara on the board and appointment of an independent committee to examine whether the 2019 directions have been faithfully implemented.

The application has been filed by Akhara's Sarpanch, Mahant Raja Ramchandracharya, aged about 102 years.

It was filed through by advocate Pratibha Jain.