Ram Mandir Donation Theft Reaches Supreme Court: Notices Issued to Centre, UP Govt, and Trust

The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir has escalated to the Supreme Court. Hearing public interest litigations (PILs) on the matter, the top court issued notices to the Central Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, demanding their responses. The bench has also summoned the complete investigation records and a detailed status report of the probe so far. Petitioners have requested that all CCTV footage related to the incident be secured immediately and that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The next hearing is scheduled for next Monday.

During the proceedings, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) noted that the Uttar Pradesh government has already formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is actively investigating the matter. Therefore, the state government must present a comprehensive status report on its progress. The Solicitor General, appearing for the Centre, objected to issuing a notice to the Ram Mandir Trust. However, the Supreme Court overruled the objection, serving a formal notice to the Trust and directing it to file a reply within the stipulated time frame.

The Solicitor General informed the court that the government would submit the SIT status report in a sealed envelope. When petitioners demanded a copy of the report to review and present their side, the Centre opposed it. Responding to this, the CJI remarked, 'You know the law, eventually they will see this report.' All eyes are now on the upcoming Monday hearing, where the apex court could pass significant directives regarding the direction of the probe.

### Ram Mandir Trust Announces CEO Recruitment
In a parallel development, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). According to the notification shared on social media platform X, the position is open to Hindu candidates between the ages of 50 and 70. Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from a recognized university and have at least 20 years of experience in management. The Trust specified that preference will be given to candidates who have previously served as a Chief Administrative Officer or possess prior experience in managing prominent temples or Hindu religious institutions.