Supreme Court PIL seeks national panel to oversee temple governance across India

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Akhil Bhartiya Mandir Parishad urges the Supreme Court of India to establish an All-India Management Committee to oversee temple governance nationwide. The plea highlights widespread issues including mismanagement, fund misuse, and poor upkeep across temples managed by state, central, and private bodies. With no official count of Hindu temples in India—many being locally or privately managed—the PIL argues that fragmented oversight has led to neglect and infringes on devotees’ rights. Citing constitutional obligations under Articles 25 and 26, the petition stresses the government’s duty to protect Hindu religious sentiments. It also references incidents like the Vaishno Devi stampede and controversies at Tirupati and Mahakaleshwar temples as evidence of administrative failure. The proposed committee would aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable access to temple services, especially for economically weaker devotees.

Source : https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/supreme-court-pil-seeks-national-panel-to-oversee-temple-governance-across-india-1.500260137