Allahabad High Court critiques UP over Sugriv Kila land sale for Ram temple work
The Allahabad High Court criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for taking temple land in Ayodhya without paying the agreed sale amount, directing the state to deposit ₹1.21 crore plus 8% interest. The court did not resolve ownership but ordered expedited civil proceedings related to the land dispu
Key takeaways
- The Allahabad High Court admonished the UP government for not paying the agreed land sale amount for a plot linked to Ram Janmabhoomi development.
- The court directed the government to deposit ₹1,20,96,000 plus 8% annual interest in a fixed deposit within four weeks, in the court's name.
- The ruling does not resolve ownership but calls for expedited disposal of the related civil case and maintains possession status pending further proceedings.
What Happened
The Allahabad High Court reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for its handling of a land plot linked to the Ram Janmabhoomi development in Ayodhya. Authorities took possession of a 1,512-square-metre plot for development work and did not pay the agreed sale consideration. The court ordered the state to deposit ₹1,20,96,000 along with 8% annual interest in an interest-bearing fixed deposit in a nationalised bank, within four weeks, in the name of the court where the related civil suit is pending. The bench noted that the state had not only withheld payment but also subsequently claimed the land was Nazul/government land, despite having executed the sale deed and taken possession. The order was issued on August 11 during a hearing on a petition filed by Shri. Thakur Ram Janki Sugrivji Virajman Mandir, a temple adjacent to the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
The court clarified it was not deciding ownership of the land but urged the trial court to expedite the civil suit, aiming to conclude the trial within a year, if possible.
Why It Matters
Judicial scrutiny of a land transfer tied to a highly sensitive religious site highlights tensions between state authorities and temple proprietors over land titles and compensation. The directive to deposit funds and expedite the civil case signals heightened judicial oversight of how state agencies handle land acquisitions connected to landmark development projects.
Background
The petition concerns a land parcel adjacent to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The temple’s petitioner contends that the UP authorities persuaded the temple to sell 1,512 square metres for Ram Janmabhoomi-related development, with an agreed sale consideration of ₹1.38 crore to be paid within 15 days. According to the petitioner, possession was taken in December 2023, but the land component of ₹1.21 crore was not paid. The authorities allegedly later changed their stance, claiming the land was Nazul/government land, despite the sale deed and possession. A separate civil suit seeking cancellation of the sale deed is pending in a civil court, while the state’s case contends ownership is disputed.
Key Facts
- Plot size involved: 1,512 square metres in Ayodhya.
- Sale consideration cited: ₹1.38 crore; actual payment due: ₹1.21 crore plus 8% annual interest.
- Payment directive: deposit ₹1,20,96,000 with 8% interest in a fixed deposit within four weeks.
- Ownership dispute: State disputes ownership while retaining possession; court did not decide ownership.
- Timeline: possession taken December 2023; High Court order on August 11, 2026.
- Pending proceedings: civil suit seeking cancellation of the sale is pending in a civil court.
What Happens Next
The trial court is expected to continue with the civil suit and endeavour to conclude the proceedings within about a year. The deposit must be made within four weeks, after which the funds will accrue interest and be held in a nationalised bank in the court’s name. The case will proceed under the ongoing dispute over land ownership, with the High Court urging expeditious handling of the civil matter.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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