Supreme Court Rejects Hindu Mahasabha Leader Swami Chakrapani's Plea For Inclusion In Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition seeking the inclusion of Swami Chakrapani of Hindu Mahasabha in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust constituted by the Government of India for the construction and management of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The matter was heard by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha. 

At the very outset, the CJI remarked that there was no vested right that the petitioner had to be included in the Ayodhya Trust. However, the petitioner argued that–

"The vested right would have come into operation when the rules and the qualifications were framed. My point is that they have not framed the rules. The Government has to make rules. Pursuant to that, this trustee should have been informed."

However, the bench remained unconvinced with the arguments raised by the petitioner and recommended the petitioner to pursue his representation and withdraw the petition. CJI Chandrachud orally remarked–

"If we dismiss the writ petition nothing will happen. You want to be a part of the Ayodhya trust, pursue your representation. We will not entertain this. We don't want to get into this at all. You want to withdraw it and pursue remedy, you can do that."

Accordingly, the petition was withdrawn.

The Supreme Court, while deciding the Ayodhya- Babri Masjid dispute, had directed the Centre that a trust should be formed for the temple. In February 2020, the Central Government issued a notification allotting the land acquired under Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993 to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is the Chairperson of the Trust, which includes  VHP Vice President Champat Rai, Senior Advocate K Parasaran, former IAS officer Nripendra Mishra etc. District Magistrate, Ayodhya and a State Government Secretary are ex-officio members of the trust.

CASE TITLE: President All India Hindu Mahasabha Swamy Chakrapani v. UoI WP(C) No. 79/2021 

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