'Ram Mandir Trust Not Answerable To Govt': MHA's 2025 Stand In Focus Amid Donation Theft Row

Published 3 July 2026 · india

'Ram Mandir Trust Not Answerable To Govt': MHA's 2025 Stand In Focus Amid Donation Theft Row Written By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 10:38 IST

'Ram Mandir Trust Not Answerable To Govt': MHA's 2025 Stand In Focus Amid Donation Theft Row Written By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 10:38 IST According to the ministry, the trust was constituted only to comply with the Supreme Court’s November 9, 2019, Ayodhya verdict Rapid Read Ayodhya Ram Mandir The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya, is not answerable to either the Centre or the Uttar Pradesh government and has the authority to take its own decisions, according to submissions made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before the Central Information Commission (CIC). The clarification has gained significance amid the ongoing controversy over alleged donation theft from the Ram Mandir in which some officials of the trust have been arrested while others are being questioned. What Did The MHA Tell The CIC? In its submission before the CIC in February last year, the MHA said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is an independent trust that is neither owned, controlled nor financed by the Central or state governments. ALSO READ | Mission UP 2027: BJP Bets On Ram Mandir Narrative To Outshine Donation Row According to the ministry, the trust was constituted only to comply with the Supreme Court’s November 9, 2019, Ayodhya verdict. It noted that the Centre’s role was limited to creating the trust as directed by the apex court.

The ministry said neither the Union government nor the Uttar Pradesh government has any financial, administrative or operational control over the trust. They also do not provide any funds to the trust, which has full authority to take independent decisions regarding its functioning and activities. Why Was The Issue Before The CIC? The matter reached the Central Information Commission after an RTI applicant sought information related to the trust. The applicant argued that the trust should be treated as a “public authority" under the Right to Information (RTI) Act because it was constituted by the government of India following the Supreme Court’s directions and a majority of its initial trustees were nominated under the government-approved scheme. Around 70 acres of acquired land were also transferred to the trust. However, the MHA and the trust argued that these factors do not amount to government ownership or control. CIC’s Ruling After examining the submissions, the Central Information Commission held that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust does not qualify as a “public authority" under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. ALSO READ | Biggest Ram Mandir Donation Theft Happened During Kumbh, Role Of Brother-in-Law Duo Under Scanner The commission observed that the trust was created in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions rather than through a law enacted by Parliament or a state legislature.