9 Vrindavan temples not getting dues from govt: HC seeks CM’s intervention

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has summoned the commissioner/secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Revenue to explain why the annuities of Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir and eight more temples in Vrindavan had been withheld for the last four years.

The court also directed the registrar (Compliance) to intimate its order within 24 hours to the chief secretary, who shall place this matter before the chief minister for necessary action.

The court said, “In this modern age of technology, once the financial year begins the State should automatically transfer the (annuity) amount into the account of the temple. Letter written by the district magistrate, Mathura to the Special Secretary, Government of U.P. at Lucknow is an indicator to the effect that the officials sitting at Lucknow do not care for the release of annuities to the trusts and temples.” Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed this order in a petition filed by Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir that sought the release of its annuity, as determined under Section 99 of UP Zamindari Abolition & Land Reforms Act, 1950, which had been withheld for the last four years by the district magistrate and senior treasury officer of Mathura. The petitioner temple’s plea was that due to permission not being granted by the Board of Revenue, an annuity amounting to Rs 9,12,507/- for nine temples had been withheld.

The court observed, “This court is pained to note that temples and trusts have to knock its doors to get their dues released from the state government, which should have automatically flowed from the treasury of the state into their account.” “It is an annual feature and the official concerned should have made necessary arrangements for the release of the annuity of the temple in question,” observed Justice Agarwal.

Earlier, the court had directed the commissioner/secretary to file a personal affidavit explaining the reasons for not granting permission for the release of the annuity.

As per the Board, the reason for withholding the annuity of nine temples was the paucity of funds. Noting that no serious efforts were being made to get the necessary budget sanctioned from the government, the court directed that the commissioner/ secretary to be present before it on Wednesday.