SC rejects plea for appointment of govt nominees in trust for Ayodhya mosque

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 4

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a PIL seeking directions for nominating Central and state government representatives to the ‘Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation’ trust for building a mosque in Ayodhya.

A Bench headed by Justice RF Nariman rejected the PIL filed by two lawyers who said apart from private individuals and members of state Sunni Wakf Board, the presence of Central and state government representatives was essential to ensure proper management of funds.

“It is in public interest that the Central Government and the State Government may have all relevant information about the working of the trust to maintain public order and to ensure that no malpractices take place and the funds are not mis-utilised or misappropriated by any trust,” the petitioners had submitted.

While giving a decree in favour of Ram Lalla that paved the way for construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site, the Supreme Court had in November 2019 said Sunni Central Wakf Board’s suit must also be partly decreed and it should be allotted alternate land measuring five acre for the construction of a mosque and associated activities within the city of Ayodhya.

The Sunni Waqf Board had on July 29, 2020, declared creating a trust under the title of “Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation” for building a mosque, cultural and research centre and public utility facilities including a community kitchen, a hospital and a library within 5 acres land allotted to it.

However, the petitioners pointed out that unlike the Ram Temple Trust, there was no provision for nominating any officer of the government in the “Indo Islamic Cultural Foundation”.

It said hundreds of people were expected to visit the mosque and the trust will get contributions from India and abroad, they said, seeking government representation on the trust for proper management of the funds and the property vested in the trust.