Why is Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust outside the RTI Act as donation theft controversy escalates? Explained

Published 6 July 2026 · india

The Ram Mandir controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations has intensified amid the ongoing probe, with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust convening

The Ram Mandir controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations has intensified amid the ongoing probe, with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust convening a meeting on Monday. The key meeting is expected to be dominated by discussions on the resignations submitted by the Trust's General Secretary, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra. The controversy has also brought renewed attention to why religious trusts such as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are generally exempt from the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Saturday called on the Centre to review its position, saying that bringing the Trust within its purview would strengthen transparency and public accountability. The government classifies such trusts as independent, private entities rather than "public authorities" under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Trust scheme records in 'confidential file' Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 Why is the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust exempt from the RTI Act? ⌵ The Trust is classified as an independent, private entity and not a 'public authority' under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, which excludes it from the Act's requirements. 2 What are the recent developments regarding the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft controversy? ⌵ Recent developments include resignations from Trust officials, a crucial meeting to discuss ongoing investigations, and the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the alleged embezzlement of donations. 3 What was the response of CPI(M) MP John Brittas regarding the Trust's RTI exemption? ⌵ MP John Brittas urged the government to reconsider the Trust's exemption from the RTI Act, advocating for transparency and public accountability in light of ongoing controversies surrounding donation mismanagement.

4 How does the Central Information Commission justify the Trust's status as a non-public authority? ⌵ The CIC determined that the Trust was not established or financed by the government and that its creation complied with Supreme Court directives, leading to its classification as an independent organization. 5 What actions have been taken following the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple? ⌵ Authorities have launched an investigation, with a SIT being tasked to probe deeper into the allegations, resulting in multiple arrests and calls for greater scrutiny of the Trust's financial practices. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had placed a government-approved scheme and a related order concerning the establishment of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in a “confidential file”. In its 2024 order, the Central Information Commission (CIC) backed the ministry's refusal to disclose the documents under the RTI Act, agreeing that making them public could pose a risk to the individuals concerned, according to PTI. The case stemmed from an RTI application filed by Neeraj Sharma, who sought "certified copies of the scheme" approved by the Centre through Order No. 71011/02/2019-AY dated 5 February 2020, as referred to in Notification No. CG-DL-E-05022020-215935 relating to the "Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra", along with the associated government orders. After failing to receive a satisfactory response from the MHA, Sharma approached the CIC. During a hearing held on 18 June 2024, the ministry stated that "due to the sensitivity of the scheme and all the matters related thereto, the entire compilation of documents etc. of setting up of 'Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra' have been kept in a confidential file". ‘Independent trust’ The CIC, in another order issued last year in June, examined whether the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust qualifies as a "public authority" under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.