Temples not getting dues from UP government: Allahabad High Court seeks intervention of CM Adityanath

The Allahabad High Court on Monday said that it was pained to note that temples and trusts in Uttar Pradesh were being forced to approach the Court for getting their dues released [Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir vs. State Of UP And 3 Others].

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal made the comment while referring the matter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for necessary action.

The Court also summoned the Secretary of UP’s Board of Revenue for an explanation about the unpaid annuity to at least nine temples in Vrindavan for the past four years.

The Court called it strange that the temple authorities were running from pillar to post to get their dues released from these government officials.

“This Court is pained to note that temples and trusts have to knock the doors of the Court for getting their dues released from the State Government, which should have automatically flowed from the Treasury of the State into the account of temple,” it observed.

It added that in this modern age of technology, the State should automatically transfer the amount to temples as soon as the financial year begins.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir (petitioner) for payment of the annuity under Section 99 of UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act by District Magistrate of Mathura and its Senior Treasury Officer. 

The petitioner told the court that annuity amounting to ₹9,125,07 had not been released to nine temples due to lack of permission by the Board of Revenue. However, the government submitted that ₹2,23,199 had been paid and now a balance of ₹6,89,308 was remaining.

The Court noted that annuity amounting to ₹3,52,080 in the case of petitioner had not been paid from 2020 to 2023 and expressed surprise on the Revenue Board’s statement that money could not be released due to paucity of funds.

“It is not a question of payment for a single year, but the annuity has not been transferred to the temple in question for the last four years,” it remarked.

The Court also said that the letter written by the District Magistrate of Mathura to the concerned Special Secretary of UP government in this regard was "an indicator to the effect that the official sitting at Lucknow do not care for the release of annuities to the trusts and temples.”

It found that no serious effort had been been made to release the annuity into the account of the temple or get a budget sanctioned for it from the government.

Thus, the Court referred the matter to the State Chief Secretary for necessary action by the Chief Minister.

“Let this order be handed over to learned Chief Standing Counsel Dr. Rajeshwar Tripathi within 24 hours for necessary compliance. Further, the Registrar (Compliance) shall intimate this order through FAX within 24 hours to the Chief Secretary, Government of U.P. who shall place this matter before the Chief Minister for necessary action," the Court directed.

The Court will hear the matter on March 20.

Advocate Devansh Misra represented the petitioner.

Chief Standing Counsel Dr Rajeshwar Tripathi represented the State.

[Read Order]