Maharashtra assembly passes bill to reconstitute Ramtek Ram temple trust; Oppn seeks strict norms

Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) The Maharashtra assembly on Friday passed a bill to reconstitute the public trust for the historic Ram temple at Ramtek, with the Opposition calling for strict eligibility rules to keep politicians and individuals facing charges of financial misconduct out of the institution's management. Replying to a debate on the legislation to establish the 'Shri Ram Mandir Trust (Ramtek)' under direct government supervision, Minister Ashish Jaiswal said that a dedicated management committee and an executive officer will be appointed to safeguard the temple's movable and immovable properties, currently managed by a sub-divisional officer. Ramtek is a pilgrimage centre located in Nagpur district. The Opposition urged the government to refer the proposed Shri Ram Temple Devasthan Trust (Ramtek) Bill to a joint select committee, objecting to provisions that allow politicians to be appointed to the temple trust and demanding stronger safeguards to ensure transparency. Participating in the discussion, senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil cautioned against appointing politicians to the trust, saying it would lead to the politicisation of the temple's affairs. He alleged that including political representatives in the trust would result in "so much corruption that even the Ayodhya temple would be left behind". Patil also objected to the proposal to pay daily and travel allowances to trustees, saying temple service should not be remunerated. He questioned the requirement that trustees submit an affidavit declaring themselves devotees of Lord Ram, arguing that it was contrary to the constitutional principle of secularism. The NCP (SP) legislator also sought stronger safeguards for handling devotees' donations, including mandatory CCTV surveillance when donation boxes are opened, a transparent system for counting donations and same-day registration of donations. He further sought a provision barring legislators or local body representatives from using temple funds for purposes outside the temple precincts. Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Bhaskar Jadhav urged the government to tighten provisions related to the removal and disqualification of trustees, arguing that waiting for a criminal conviction in cases involving moral turpitude could allow unsuitable persons to remain on the trust for years due to delays in the judicial process. "This is the trust of Lord Ram's temple. There should be no loopholes in the law. The institution should be managed only by people of unquestionable integrity," he said. BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar objected to the proposed provision requiring a court conviction before action could be taken against a trustee, saying judicial proceedings often take decades to conclude. He further suggested that persons found guilty of serious misconduct while discharging their responsibilities should not be allowed to continue as trustees. Mungantiwar said those managing the temple would be custodians of donations made by devotees and should operate with complete transparency and integrity. The trust should include capable, service-minded individuals, he said, noting that controversies involving alleged misuse of donations at religious institutions elsewhere had eroded public confidence. During the discussion, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted the historical and religious significance of Lord Ram and the Ramtek temple, emphasising that the institution represented the faith and devotion of millions, and therefore, required the highest standards of governance. Minister Jaiswal informed the assembly that the temple possessed substantial movable and immovable properties, and there was a need to enact a special law to reconstitute the institution in the name of Shri Ram Mandir Trust (Ramtek) under the control and supervision of the government by appointing a management committee and other administrative measures. The temple administration is under the supervision of the Ramtek sub-divisional officer, he said. Wadettiwar demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee, saying the management of the historic temple should remain free from political interference. He said that only individuals with integrity, public service credentials and devotion should be appointed as trustees, not politicians. He further questioned why the government was replacing the existing court-appointed committee when there were no allegations of irregularities or mismanagement against it. The Congress MLA also questioned why the bill had been introduced on the last day of the three-week assembly session. Citing reports of alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Wadettiwar said places of worship must be governed by the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and devotees' donations should be managed responsibly. He opposed the proposal to provide allowances to trustees, saying service at a temple should be voluntary and not financed by devotees' donations. PTI MR ARU