In Brief
A religious trust at Ranchi, the Shree Shree Ram Janki Ji Asthan Tapovan Mandir, had transferred certain properties after obtaining statutory approvals from the Bihar State Board of Religious Trust. A public interest petition alleged the transfer was illegal and misappropriation. The High Court directed CBI investigation. The Supreme Court held the High Court erred in entertaining the PIL for a purely civil dispute over religious trust property and wrongly directed CBI investigation absent exceptional circumstances. The Court noted CBI can only investigate with State consent in rare cases affecting credibility or fundamental rights, and that statutory provisions permitted the trust property transfer after Board approval. The appeal was allowed and the writ petition dismissed.
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