Ram temple revives old Champat Rai-signed entry passes to keep work on track
Identity cards and entry passes bearing the signature of former Ram temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, which were recently declared invalid, have been made
Identity cards and entry passes bearing the signature of former Ram temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, which were recently declared invalid, have been made valid again under an interim arrangement, temple sources said. The temporary step has been taken to ensure that construction and maintenance work at the Ram temple is not disrupted. Under the arrangement, authorised employees, engineers and technical officers will be allowed to enter the temple complex using the old identity cards until a new pass system is put in place, the sources said.
Read Full Story The decision comes amid administrative changes in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust following a controversy over the alleged misappropriation of gold and silver ornaments donated by devotees. The move comes days after entry on identity cards bearing Rai's signature was stopped following changes in the trust leadership. As a result, engineers and employees of agencies involved in the temple project, including L&T, Tata, India Engineers Limited and Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, were reportedly denied entry to the complex.
According to temple sources, the restrictions had started affecting the supervision and coordination of ongoing works, including the construction of the boundary wall, museum, trust office and rest house. This prompted the interim decision to allow use of the old cards until the new system is introduced. The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a Special Investigation Team, and an FIR was later registered, leading to the arrest of multiple accused. The developments also led to Champat Rai stepping down as the trust's general secretary and Anil Mishra resigning.
A new pass system is expected after the administrative transition is completed, while the temporary arrangement is meant to keep temple work running without interruption. Ends
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