SIT told to finish Ram temple probe
The Supreme Court on Monday asked a court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya to complete its investigation expeditiously and take it to a logical conclusion. A Bench of Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed the SIT to file a status report in a sealed cover on the progress made in the investigation.
“The SIT, which includes a forensic auditor, will submit its status report to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. The report will be first perused by us and seen if we have to release it to all the parties,” the Bench said.
The Bench also asked the SIT to consider objectively any suggestions made by the different litigants before the court for qualitative improvement of the investigation and its transparency.
It permitted the petitioners seeking a court-monitored investigation by an independent agency or the CBI, and other public-spirited persons to submit suggestions to the office of the Solicitor General of India (SGI) on any aspect that should be probed by the SIT in connection with the allegations of donations theft.
“We also permit the petitioners or any other bona fide public-spirited person to give their suggestions to the office of the Solicitor General with respect to the aspects that may be required to be thoroughly investigated by the SIT.
“The office of the Solicitor General shall forward the suggestions to the SIT. We have no reason to doubt that the same shall be objectively considered,” it ordered.
The bench said after examining the report of the SIT, the court may issue certain directions for reforms in the management of donations made by the devotees visiting the Ram temple.
On July 27, the SC took note of the setting up of the four-member SIT headed by IGP Kiran S to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple. It had asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to also include a forensic auditor in the probe team.
Observing that “remedial actions will have to be taken”, the Bench had said that steps will be taken to “ensure transparency”.
After allegations of irregularities in the management of donations surfaced at the temple, several petitioners, including RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, moved the SC seeking a probe by the CBI and a forensic audit of the finances of the temple trust.
Meanwhile, the SC refused to entertain a separate plea of the Nirmohi Akhara seeking a direction to the Union Government to reconstitute the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, as a “public trust”.
The Nirmohi Akhara, an ancient Ramanandi Hindu monastic order devoted to Lord Ram, had played a major role in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi legal dispute. It was one of the main litigants in the title dispute, claiming rights to manage Ram Lalla and the site. The Akhara recently approached the top court seeking changes to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, including greater transparency and public-trust status, and a role for itself in the temple administration.
