A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed multiple petitions filed by cooperative banks seeking relief from the High Court’s two-month deadline to return the deposits. The court said the funds must be secured in a reliable nationalised bank that offers better safety and interest returns.
During the hearing, the bench questioned the intent behind the banks’ reluctance to release the money. “Do you intend to use the temple’s money to save the bank?” the CJI asked, noting that the funds were being held far beyond the maturity of the fixed deposits.
The cooperative banks argued that an immediate refund of the large deposit amount would strain their finances. They said the temple trust had renewed the fixed deposits for several years and had not demanded closure earlier. However, the court found no justification for withholding the money once the temple formally requested its release.
The temple trust told the bench it had repeatedly sought the funds for operational needs, accusing the banks of delaying tactics. The judges observed that a financial institution cannot rely on religious trust deposits for its survival. “Temple funds belong to the deity and must be used only for its benefit,” the CJI said while delivering the order.
The court allowed the banks to approach the High Court if they required an extension to comply.
The dispute stems from the Tirunelli Devaswom’s effort to access its deposits ahead of scheduled temple projects and maintenance work. The historic Tirunelli Temple in Wayanad often referred to as the “Kashi of the South”draws thousands of devotees each year and manages significant offerings from pilgrims.
