No urgent hearing on Ram Mandir

The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led probe into alleged financial irregularities and embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

- 

A vacation bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu said the matter would be listed after the summer vacation and directed the petitioners to furnish a copy of the petition to the court's Registry.

When the matter was mentioned for urgent listing, Advocate NK Goswami, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that electronic evidence could be tampered with and sought immediate directions for preservation of evidence, Live Law and Bar & Bench report.

Questioning the urgency, the bench observed, "Heavens are not going to fall... What is the urgency?"

The petitioner argued that "the way the State is dealing with the matter... casts doubts..." However, the bench declined to take up the matter during the partial court working days and said it would be heard after the court reopens.

The petition filed has named the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Union Government and the Uttar Pradesh Government as respondents.