All India Buddhist Forum Moves Supreme Court— Seeks Urgent Hearing in Bodh Gaya Temple Case Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike

New Delhi- The All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court, urging an immediate hearing of the long-pending Writ Petition (Civil) No. 0380 of 2012 concerning the management and administration of the Bodh Gaya Temple.

The plea comes as Buddhist monks have been on a hunger strike since February 12, demanding resolution of the issues raised in the petition. As of today, their hunger strike has entered its 38th day, raising serious concerns about their health and well-being. The protestors have been demanding to repeal the BT Act. The Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949 established a nine-member Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) to oversee the temple’s administration. However, only four members are Buddhists, while the remaining five, including the chairman (District Magistrate), are Hindus. Protesters argue that this unjust arrangement denies Buddhists the right to manage their holiest site, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

Earlier in March, Advocate Anand S. Jondhale, President of the Buddhist International Forum for Peace, had also approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent hearing of the same petition, citing the prolonged delay and the critical condition of the monks on strike.

The writ petition, originally filed in 2012 by Bhante Arya Nagarjun Shurai Sasai and Gajendra Mahanand Pantawane, raises concerns over the administration of the Bodh Gaya Temple, a site of immense religious and cultural significance for Buddhists worldwide. Despite the passage of 13 years, the case has not been listed for hearing, causing growing frustration among the Buddhist community.

In its intervention application, Akash Lama, general secretary of the AIBF emphasized that the prolonged pendency of the case has led to a dire situation where Buddhist monks have resorted to indefinite fasting to draw attention to their demands. The forum stressed that the Supreme Court's intervention is crucial to prevent any potential loss of life.

“The Buddhist monks have been on a hunger strike since February 12, and their condition is deteriorating each passing day. The delay in hearing the writ petition could result in a tragic outcome,” the application stated.

The AIBF has requested the Supreme Court to:

1. Allow the forum to intervene in the writ petition and assist the court in the matter.

2. List the writ petition for an urgent hearing, given the critical health condition of the fasting monks.

3. Pass any other orders deemed necessary to ensure justice and protect Buddhist interests at Bodh Gaya Temple.

Legal experts and Buddhist community leaders have expressed disappointment over the delay in resolving the matter. They have urged the judiciary to take swift action to address the concerns raised in the petition and ensure the protection of Buddhist heritage at Bodh Gaya.

With the hunger strike continuing and pressure mounting, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court to decide whether it will prioritize the hearing and provide much-needed relief to the Buddhist monks and the larger community fighting for their cause.