Hindu seers in Ayodhya on Thursday, 9 July demanded the resignation of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, holding him accountable for alleged irregularities in donations at the Ram Temple and accusing him of attempting to assert undue dominance over Ram Janmabhoomi. The demands come amid an ongoing controversy surrounding the reported resignation of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, which has yet to be officially confirmed or clarified.

What the Seers Alleged

Mahant Sitaram Das of Saket Bhavan Temple said that no formal statement regarding Champat Rai's resignation had been issued, nor had any clarification come from Rai himself. He alleged that Govind Dev Giri was making independent statements 'out of excessive enthusiasm' and attempting to show dominance over Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. 'I am extremely disappointed; he is arrogant and does not possess any value of being a saint,' Mahant Sitaram Das said, adding that the treasurer — not Champat Rai — bore responsibility for whatever irregularities had occurred. He noted that Champat Rai had 'led the struggle for the Ram Temple and faced several hardships.'

Confusion Over Trust Meeting and Resignation

Mahant Deveshacharya ji Maharaj of Siddh Peeth Hanumangarhi Temple said that Govind Dev Giri had spent four to five hours in a meeting the previous day attempting to convince others, yet no clarity had emerged. He pointed out that neither the agenda of the upcoming Trust meeting nor the text of Champat Rai's resignation had been made public. 'So how are we supposed to believe that he has resigned, and if he indeed has, then for what is he now being persuaded?' Mahant Deveshacharya asked. He further alleged that Govind Dev Giri had himself admitted to having no authority or formal responsibility, raising questions about the legitimacy of his position as treasurer.

Calls for Broader Accountability

Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das ji Maharaj broadened the accountability net, holding all members of the Ram Temple Trust responsible for the alleged embezzlement. 'For the Ram Temple, Ram devotees faced bullets and karsevaks made sacrifices. Therefore, everyone is accountable, whether it is Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, or the treasurer,' he said. He stopped short of backing any individual, adding: 'Somewhere I believe there has been a conspiracy.' He also urged the formation of a 'Sanatan Board', arguing that such a body would have prevented alleged thefts at the Ram Temple, Badrinath Temple, and other Hindu places of worship.

Background and What It Means

The controversy marks a rare and significant public rift within the Trust that oversaw the construction and administration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya — a project that drew decades of political and religious mobilisation. The seer community's open demands for a treasurer's resignation, combined with allegations of financial irregularities, put fresh pressure on the Trust's leadership at a sensitive moment. Notably, this is the first time multiple prominent mahants have collectively called for accountability from within the Trust's own ranks. How the Trust responds — and whether Champat Rai's resignation is formally confirmed — will shape the next phase of this dispute.