he Supreme Court today declined to entertain a plea seeking directions to constitute committees for examining encroachment of temple properties across the country, observing that it cannot issue pan-India directions on such matters.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a writ petition seeking nationwide oversight mechanisms for temple lands. At the outset, the CJI noted that temple management trusts already exist in various states, and issues of mismanagement can be addressed by courts on a case-by-case basis.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that temple websites lack basic information, including details of properties, encroachments and damage to temple structures. He submitted that only a handful of temples fall under statutory trusts and referred to

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