Allahabad High Court Urges CM Yogi Adityanath’s Intervention as Temples in UP Await Dues”

The Allahabad High Court has raised concerns over the delayed release of annuity dues to several temples and trusts in Uttar Pradesh, prompting Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal to seek the intervention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The court’s observation came during the hearing of a petition filed by Thakur Rangji Maharaj Virajman Mandir, highlighting the plight of temples awaiting their rightful payments.

The court expressed dismay over the situation where temples and trusts are compelled to approach the judiciary to secure their dues from the state government. It noted the irony of the temples having to resort to legal recourse instead of the funds automatically flowing from the state treasury as expected.

Highlighting the lapse in administrative efficiency, the court emphasized the need for a streamlined process wherein the state should proactively transfer the allocated amount to temples at the commencement of each financial year. It stressed the importance of leveraging technology to ensure timely disbursement of funds and prevent undue delays in payments.

During the proceedings, it emerged that annuity amounts totaling ₹3,52,080 for the petitioner had remained unpaid from 2020 to 2023. The court expressed surprise at the Revenue Board’s justification of fund scarcity for the non-release of payments, especially considering the cumulative delay spanning four years.

The court scrutinized the letter from the District Magistrate of Mathura to the concerned Special Secretary of the UP government, highlighting bureaucratic apathy towards the release of annuities to trusts and temples. It observed a lack of concerted efforts to expedite the transfer of funds to temple accounts or secure budget allocations from the government.

Consequently, the court referred the matter to the State Chief Secretary for necessary action under the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The order mandated immediate compliance, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the long-standing issue of unpaid annuity dues to temples and trusts across Uttar Pradesh.

Advocate Devansh Misra represented the petitioner, while Chief Standing Counsel Dr. Rajeshwar Tripathi represented the state in the proceedings. The court is scheduled to reconvene on March 20 to further address the matter and ensure the implementation of its directives.

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