Supreme Court Advances Bodh Gaya Temple Case: Final Hearing Fixed for Dec 9 After Buddhist Plea

New Delhi- In a pivotal update to the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Liberation Movement, the Supreme Court of India has scheduled the final hearing of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act (BT Act 1949) petition for December 9. Advocate Anand S. Jondhale, representing intervenors including the All India Buddhist Forum had urged an expedited timeline to resolve the century-old dispute over Buddhist control of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Speaking exclusively to The Mooknayak, Advocate Jondhale revealed that an earlier hearing slated for late November did not materialize. "The Supreme Court had initially fixed January 20, 2026, for the final arguments. However, the Buddhist side requested an earlier date to avoid further delays in this historic case. The court graciously advanced it to December 9, which we expect to be the conclusive hearing," Jondhale stated, emphasizing the community's eagerness for closure.

The Bodh Gaya petition, challenging the 1949 Act for allegedly discriminating against Buddhists by mandating non-Buddhist members in the temple's management committee, has seen steady progress. In the October 30 hearing, a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh allowed a key amendment application by petitioners, directing respondents including the Bihar government and Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) to file counter-affidavits. The court also instructed Mahants (Hindu priests claiming historical rights) to submit a formal impleadment application after their advocate sought party status.

13 Years of the 2012 Petition

In 2012, Buddhist monks Bhante Arya Nagarjun Shurai Sasai and Gajendra Mahanand Pantawane filed the writ petition (Civil No. 0380 of 2012) in the Supreme Court, challenging the Act’s provisions and seeking exclusive Buddhist management of the temple. Despite its significance, the petition remained unheard for over a decade, prompting Buddhist monks to undertake hunger strikes to draw attention to the issue.

On February 12, 2025, the AIBF launched an indefinite relay hunger strike, now that has crossed 8 months, highlighting the life-threatening condition of the protesting monks. Advocate Anand S. Jondhale, President of the Buddhist International Forum for Peace, filed an intervention plea emphasizing the urgency of the situation, noting that the monks’ health was deteriorating and that further delays could endanger their lives.

Venerable Bhante Dhamm Shikar, who has been fighting the case through an intervention petition since 2018, stated that the plea demands full control of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara by Buddhists. "This sacred site is where Lord Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The verse declares—'Mahabodhi Lokanatam Pujita Aham Pite Namo Bodhi Rajaya Namastute'. The Bodhi Tree and the Mahavihara represent Buddha Himself. 'Vandami Sabbe Par Dhātu Mahabodhim Buddharūpam Sakalam Sadā'—this place symbolizes Buddha's physical relics and eternal presence. We instructed Advocate Shreyas Dambare to incorporate this powerful argument into the petition," Bhante explained.