Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the formation of a 15-member autonomous trust to construct the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The PM made the announcement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday four days before the expiry of a 3-month deadline set by the Supreme Court in its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case on 9 November last year.

"On the basis of the SC directive, my government has today given the approval for a broad scheme for the building of a grand and magnificent Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram at Ayodhya and constituted an independent trust named 'Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra' to oversee its construction. This Trust will be empowered to take independent decisions on the construction of the temple and other related subjects," the PM said.

The trust, which will have its registered office in Delhi, will have a representative from the Dalit community. However, the composition of the members of the Trust is based on what is being called as “practising Hindus” with government ensuring it is enshrined in the provisions of the Ayodhya Trust.

The government named members of the trust, officials said. They include senior lawyer K Parasaran, Jagatguru Shankracharya, Jyothishpeethadheeshwar Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj from Allahabad, Jagatguru Madhavacharya Swami Vishwa Prasannatheerth Ji Maharaj, Pejawar Math in Udupi, Yugpurush Paramanand Ji Maharaj from Haridwar, Swami Govinddev Giri Ji Maharaj from Pune and Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra from Ayodhya.

Besides, the following will be the trustees, Anil Mishra, a homoeopathic doctor from Ayodhya, Kameshwar Chaupal from Patna who is a Scheduled Caste member, and Mahant Dinendra Das, Nirmohi Akhara, Ayodhya Baithak.

Two prominent people who shall be practising Hindus will be nominated by the board of trustees with a majority resolution. One representative will be nominated by the Centre who shall be a practising Hindu by religion and a serving member of the IAS and who shall not be below the rank of joint secretary to Government of India and shall be an ex officio member.

Another representative will be nominated by the UP government who shall be a practising Hindu and an IAS officer and not below the rank of secretary to the UP government and shall be an ex officio member.

The Ayodhya district collector will be the ex officio trustee who shall be a practising Hindu. If for any reason the incumbent collector is not a practising Hindu, the additional collector of Ayodhya who shall be a practising Hindu shall be an ex officio member.

The chairman of the committee for the development and administration of matters relating to the Ram Temple complex, who will be appointed by the Board of Trustees, who shall be a practising Hindu, shall be an ex officio member.

First Published:Feb 6, 2020 6:00 PM IST