Overview
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra is a public charitable trust constituted by the Government of India to oversee the construction and management of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The trust was set up following the verdict of the Supreme Court of India in November 2019 in the long-running Ayodhya title dispute, which awarded the disputed site to a body to be formed by the Union Government.
| Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra |
| Type | Public charitable trust |
| Formed | February 2020 |
| Founded by | Government of India |
| Purpose | Construction and management of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya |
| Location | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Chairman | Mahant Nritya Gopal Das |
| General Secretary | Champat Rai |
Background
The Ayodhya dispute centred on the site believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. After decades of litigation, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India delivered a unanimous judgment on 9 November 2019, directing the Union Government to formulate a scheme within three months for the setting up of a trust or other appropriate body to manage the site and oversee the construction of a temple. The court also directed that an alternative five-acre plot be allotted in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque.
Formation
On 5 February 2020, the then Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in the Lok Sabha the formation of the trust under the name Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The trust was constituted in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions and was given autonomy in matters relating to the construction and administration of the temple and associated facilities.
Composition
The trust is composed of fifteen trustees, including representatives nominated by the Union Government, members of the Nirmohi Akhara, members of the erstwhile Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, and prominent figures from the Hindu religious and legal community. Two trustee positions are reserved for nominees of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, while one is reserved for a member of the Scheduled Castes.
- Chairman: Mahant Nritya Gopal Das
- General Secretary: Champat Rai
- Treasurer: Govind Dev Giri
Temple Construction
The Bhoomi Pujan (ground-breaking ceremony) for the Ram Mandir was performed on 5 August 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with senior religious figures and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath in attendance. The construction was undertaken by Larsen & Toubro as the principal contractor, with Tata Consulting Engineers serving as project management consultant. The temple was designed in the Nagara style of North Indian temple architecture, with the design originally prepared by the Sompura family of architects.
The Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of the Ram Lalla idol in the sanctum sanctorum took place on 22 January 2024, with the principal rituals conducted in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Functions
The trust is responsible for:
- Construction of the Ram Mandir and the wider temple complex.
- Management of donations and offerings received from devotees in India and abroad.
- Administration of pilgrim facilities at the site.
- Coordination with central and state government agencies on security, infrastructure and development of Ayodhya as a pilgrimage destination.
Funding
The temple project was largely financed through public donations. The trust conducted a nationwide contribution campaign known as the Nidhi Samarpan Abhiyan in early 2021, in which volunteers visited households across India seeking voluntary contributions for the temple's construction.
Significance
The trust is one of the most prominent religious bodies established in independent India by an Act of governmental notification, owing to the historical, legal and cultural importance of the Ayodhya site. Its formation marked the culmination of one of the longest-running civil disputes in Indian legal history and the beginning of a major reshaping of Ayodhya as a pilgrimage and tourism centre.
Related Topics
- Ram Mandir
- Ayodhya
- Ayodhya Dispute
- Supreme Court of India
- Ram Janmabhoomi
- Nirmohi Akhara
- Pran Pratishtha
References
- Supreme Court of India, judgment in M Siddiq (D) Thr Lrs v. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors., 9 November 2019.
- Statement of the Prime Minister of India in the Lok Sabha, 5 February 2020.
- Wikidata entry: Q87119733.