Himachal HC issues notice over alleged ₹100 crore embezzlement at Trilokpur temple trust

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken note of serious allegations of financial irregularities at the Maa Bala Sundari Temple Trust in Trilokpur, Sirmaur district. The court has issued notices to the state government, the district administration, and other concerned officials, asking them to respond to claims of embezzlement of more than ₹100 crore.

The case has been filed as a public interest litigation (PIL) by one employee of the temple trust and three local devotees. They have alleged large-scale misuse of temple funds and properties and have raised serious concerns about the way the trust is being run.

Allegations of financial mismanagement

According to the petition, the funds, assets, and administration of the Maa Bala Sundari Temple Trust have been mishandled for a long time. The petitioners claim that there is no proper financial transparency in the trust’s functioning. They allege that required records such as annual budgets, accounts, and audit reports are either not being maintained or are not available.

The petition also claims that several employees of the temple trust are being used for the personal work of officials. These employees are allegedly deputed at the residences of officials instead of performing duties related to the temple. The petitioners say this practice amounts to misuse of temple resources and staff.

The High Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, recorded these concerns while issuing notice in the case. The court observed that the allegations point towards serious administrative lapses and lack of accountability within the temple trust.

The petition also raises questions about the role of the accountant of the temple trust. It alleges that there have been lapses in maintaining financial records and that no action has been taken against the accountant despite these alleged failures.

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The petitioners have further alleged that the officials managing the trust have violated the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Trusts Act, 1984. According to them, there has been negligence in following legal and financial rules meant to ensure proper management of religious institutions.

Questions over staff and expenses

Apart from financial records, the petition also highlights issues related to staffing and expenditure. It claims that the temple trust has 72 employees on its rolls, but only 61 of them are actually working at the temple. The remaining employees are reportedly posted in other government departments, but their salaries are still being paid by the temple trust.

The petitioners allege that the trust spends around ₹7 to ₹8 lakh every month on salaries. They have questioned why the temple trust should bear the salary burden of employees who are not working for the temple.

The petition also raises concerns about the maintenance expenses of vehicles owned by the temple trust. According to the claims, a large amount of money has been spent on repairs of these vehicles. It is alleged that around ₹4.22 lakh was spent on repairing one vehicle, while approximately ₹2.10 lakh was spent on another. The total expenditure on repairs of four vehicles is said to be more than ₹7.22 lakh.

The petitioners have questioned whether such high spending was necessary and whether proper approval and documentation were maintained for these expenses.

The lawyer representing the petitioners told the court that a thorough examination of all records related to the temple trust is essential. These include annual accounts, audit reports, income and expenditure statements, records related to appointments and promotions of employees, attendance registers, vehicle logbooks, and other administrative documents.

The petitioners have demanded an impartial and high-level investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, embezzlement, and illegal promotions. They have also sought accountability from officials at both the trust level and the administrative level.

The High Court has sought responses from the state government, the district administration, and other concerned officials regarding the allegations made in the PIL. The court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case at this stage and has only asked the respondents to reply.

The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for March 9. The court is expected to examine the responses filed by the authorities and decide the further course of action.

The Maa Bala Sundari Temple in Trilokpur is an important religious site and attracts a large number of devotees every year. The petitioners have said that proper management of temple funds is necessary to maintain public trust and ensure that donations are used for religious and charitable purposes.

The case has drawn attention to the need for transparency and accountability in the management of religious trusts. The outcome of the proceedings may have wider implications for the governance of temple trusts in the state.