The Allahabad High Court on Monday declined to grant an out-of-turn hearing on a petition seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The Lucknow bench of the court observed that there was no urgency in the matter and noted that it was already handling a large number of pending cases.
A vacation bench comprising Justice Pankaj Bhatia and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai rejected the request for urgent listing after hearing the plea filed by petitioner Mohit Ashok.
“No Need for Out-of-Turn Hearing,” Says Bench
During the hearing, the court also orally observed that the Uttar Pradesh government had already taken cognisance of the issue. On this basis, the bench said there was no justification at this stage to prioritise the petition for immediate hearing.
The plea was listed at serial number 392 among 529 fresh cases before the Lucknow bench on Monday.
Petition Seeks Probe and CAG Audit
The petitioner has sought an independent investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds received as offerings (donations) at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The petition also demands a detailed audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, claiming possible financial irregularities in the handling of devotee donations. It has urged judicial intervention to ensure transparency and proper accountability in temple fund management.
UP Government Already Ordered SIT Probe
The case is being examined alongside an ongoing inquiry initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government. On June 13, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after a request from the temple trust, following allegations related to the management of donations.
The SIT includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary of the Finance Department Neel Ratan.
