Temple management matter: UP Govt faces SC's ire

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday faced the ire of the Supreme Court which asked searching questions about management of temples and religious endowments and observed that there was "anarchy" in the state.

The stinging rebuke from the apex court came while it was hearing a matter related to management of an ancient temple in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.

"Can you do anything on the basis of your executive order? This is anarchy," a bench headed by Justice N V Ramana observed, while asking whether anybody can build temple in the state and collect money from public.

The bench asked the state to apprise it within six weeks whether it would come out with a law to take care of issues relating to management of temples and religious endowments.

The top court asked the state as to why they have not enacted any law for management of temples and religious endowments.

It also asked why the state has not adopted the central legislation in this regard.

The bench had last week expressed its displeasure that though the matter was pending before it since 2010, it was "unfortunate" that the counsel appearing for the state was not in a position to explain as to whether the state has enacted any Act or legislation in this regard.

"In view of the above, we have no other option except to direct the Chief Secretary/concerned Secretary of the state of Uttar Pradesh to appear personally before this court on October 22, 2019 and give proper explanation on the above-mentioned issues," the bench had said in its October 17 order.

The apex court is hearing an appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict which had ordered that the offerings made by devotees in the around 300-year-old temple in Bulandshahr would be given to the 'Pandas' (priests).