NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that money belonging to a temple deity cannot be used to support financially troubled cooperative banks. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, made these sharp remarks during the hearing of appeals filed by several cooperative banks. These banks had challenged a Kerala High Court order that instructed them to return deposits belonging to the Thirunelly Temple Devaswom.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the use of temple funds for bank bailouts. “You want to use the temple money to save the bank? What is wrong with directing that the temple money, instead of being in a cooperative bank which is struggling, should go to a healthy nationalised bank which can offer maximum interest?” CJI Surya Kant asked.
The case revolved around the dispute over the deposits made by the Thirunelly Temple Devaswom in various cooperative banks that were facing financial distress. The Kerala High Court had earlier ruled that the money should be returned to the temple, a decision now upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Court’s remarks underscore the principle that funds meant for religious purposes, particularly those held in trust for temple deities, should not be diverted for purposes other than their intended religious and charitable use. The ruling has significant implications for the management of temple finances and the handling of deposits made by religious institutions.
