Temple authorities in pain as they await dues from state government: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court (HC) expressed its concern over the delay in releasing annuity payments to nine temples in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. The court noted that the temples and trusts had to resort to legal action to obtain their dues from the state government, which should have been disbursed automatically. A petition filed by Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir highlighted the issue, prompting the court to intervene.

The petitioner revealed that an amount of Rs 9,125,07 was pending with the government, as the Board of Revenue had not granted permission for the release of funds to the temples. While Rs 2,23,199 had been paid, a balance of Rs 6,89,308 remained outstanding. The Commissioner/Secretary of the Board of Revenue cited a shortage of funds as the reason for the delay in disbursing the remaining amount.

The court expressed its disappointment over the situation, noting that the temples had been struggling for four years to receive their rightful payments. It highlighted the lack of effort on the part of government officials in facilitating the transfer of annuities to the temples’ accounts. The court issued summons to the Secretary of the Board of Revenue for an explanation and emphasized the need for prompt action in resolving the issue.

Furthermore, the court pointed out a letter from the Mathura district magistrate to the Special Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government, indicating a lack of concern for releasing annuities to trusts and temples. The court’s intervention underscores the importance of ensuring timely disbursal of funds to religious institutions, urging authorities to address the matter promptly to avoid further delays and inconveniences for the temples and trusts involved.