New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday said that the money offered to God in the temple cannot be used to save the financially troubled cooperative banks. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made this strong comment when they were hearing the appeal of some cooperative banks. These banks had challenged the Kerala High Court’s direction asking them to return the money deposited by the Tirunelli Temple Devaswom.
CJI asked, you want to use the temple money to save the bank? What is the problem if the temple money, which is lying in a co-operative bank which is running with great difficulty, should be transferred to an efficient nationalized bank which can give maximum interest?
The CJI said that the wealth of the temple belongs to the deity, hence it should be protected, kept safe and used only in the interest of the temple. It cannot become a means of income or survival for the co-operative bank. Mananthavady Co-operative Urban Society Limited and Thirunelli Service Co-operative Bank Limited had filed petitions against the High Court order.
The High Court had directed five cooperative banks to break the fixed deposits (FD) of Devaswom and return the entire amount within two months, as the banks were not returning the matured deposits despite repeated requests. The Supreme Court was not satisfied with the banks’ argument that they were facing difficulties due to the sudden instructions given by the High Court. The bench said that banks should establish credibility among the people.
The court said, if you are not able to attract customers and deposits, then that is your problem. The Supreme Court refused to hear the petitions of the banks. However, the court allowed the banks to approach the High Court seeking extension of time to comply with the order.
The case arose out of a petition by Thirunelli Devaswom complaining about non-return of the temple’s fixed deposits by several co-operative banks despite repeated requests. Let us inform that the High Court had directed Thirunelli Service Co-operative Bank Limited, Sushila Gopalan Memorial Women’s Co-operative Society Limited, Mananthavady Co-operative Rural Society Limited, Mananthavady Co-operative Urban Society Limited and Wayanad Temple Employees Co-operative Society Limited to return the amount within two months.