New Delhi – The Supreme Court has scheduled the final hearing on a long-pending writ petition seeking the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, for July 29. Advocate Anand Jondhale, who recently visited Bodh Gaya, has gathered crucial evidence to strengthen the case for scrapping the BT Act. According to Jondhale, the issue goes beyond mere legal provisions—it involves a multi-billion rupee scam and the systematic plunder of Buddhist heritage, which will be presented before the Supreme Court on the hearing date.

The writ petition (Civil No. 0380/2012) was filed in 2012 by Buddhist monks Bhante Arya Nagarjun Surai Sasai and Gajendra Mahanand Pantawane, challenging the provisions of the Act and demanding exclusive Buddhist management of the temple. However, the petition remained unlisted for over a decade.

Amid the deteriorating health of Buddhist monks on a hunger strike since February 12, 2025, as part of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, an urgent hearing was sought. On May 18, Justices Deepankar Datta and Prasanna B. Varale reprimanded government lawyers for the 12-year delay and made it clear that no further adjournments would be granted. The court directed all parties to file their affidavits and counter-affidavits in the interim, marking a decisive step toward resolving the contentious issue surrounding the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

No Government or Law in Bodh Gaya, Only the Rule of Mahant Mafia!

Advocate Anand Jondhale revealed shocking details after his visit to Bodh Gaya, exposing a deeply entrenched scam that left him stunned. Emperor Ashoka built the first temple in the Mahabodhi Temple complex in the 3rd century BCE, establishing the Mahabodhi Vihara across 25,000 acres with 84,000 stupas and gold-plated statues. Today, most of these priceless artifacts have mysteriously vanished—only a few broken, gold-plated remnants remain. Local Buddhists question: "Did these statues disappear into thin air or get swallowed by the earth?" Jondhale alleges that the Mahant family, which has controlled Bodh Gaya for 150 years, has smuggled these treasures abroad for profit.

He further exposed how land prices in Gaya are higher than Mumbai and Delhi, deliberately inflated to prevent outsiders from purchasing property. Jondhale emphasized that while Buddhism has spread to 165 countries, with 30-40 nations having Buddhist rulers, devotees who visit Mahabodhi Mahavihar donate thousands of dollars—a revenue stream the Mahants monopolize by barring Buddhists from temple management.

Jondhale also debunked the so-called "Shankaracharya Buddhist Math," where Buddhist idols are falsely rebranded as Hindu deities. He stressed that Buddhism has no concept of 'Math' (monastic orders)—only Viharas. Shockingly, he reported that lawlessness prevails in Bodh Gaya, with Mahant henchmen extorting 'road taxes' at gunpoint—evidence of which has been captured on video.

Urging the global Buddhist community to act, Jondhale called for mass FIRs against the Mahants and administration. The evidence he gathered for the July 29 Supreme Court hearing aims to scrap the BT Act and restore Buddhist control over Mahabodhi. He demanded ED, CBI, and Customs probes to recover smuggled artifacts and end this 150-year loot. "Only Buddhist stewardship can save this heritage," he declared.

What is the Controversy Surrounding Mahabodhi Mahavihara?

The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Buddhism’s holiest pilgrimage center, has been embroiled in a long-standing dispute over its administration. The Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949 established the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), composed of four Buddhist and four Hindu members, with the District Magistrate of Gaya serving as its ex-officio chairman.

Historically, the Act mandated that the chairman must be Hindu, a provision amended in 2013 to allow non-Hindu district magistrates to hold the position. However, Buddhist groups like the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) argue that the Act violates Articles 25, 26, 29, and 30 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee the right to manage religious affairs without interference.

The Mahabodhi Liberation Movement, demanding full Buddhist administrative control of the temple, traces its roots to the late 19th century when Venerable Anagarika Dharmapala initiated efforts to restore Buddhist authority over the site, which had been under non-Buddhist management since the 16th century.

Why the Supreme Court Hearing Matters

The July 29 hearing could redefine the temple’s future, addressing:

a) Whether the BT Act must be scrapped for violating constitutional rights.

b) If exclusive Buddhist management should be restored after 500+ years of non-Buddhist control.

c) Accountability for missing relics, illegal encroachments, and financial irregularities.

Buddhist groups worldwide are rallying behind the cause, seeing this as a final battle to reclaim their heritage. The Supreme Court’s decision may set a historic precedent for religious autonomy in India.