The bench observed that the acharyas of the temple, being the important people of the religion, were free to perform any ritual, but the management of the temple and the donations could only be handled by the trustees.

The bench said the appointment of the trustees should be on the basis of an election and the trustees should elect or select someone as chairman from among themselves.

The petitioners had alleged large-scale irregularities in the management of 27 big and 300-odd small temples under the trust.

They said that though the management provides the acharyas Rs 10,000 a month towards personal expenses, two vehicles, servants and well-furnished houses for their families, Acharya Ajendra Prasad has not been depositing the entire donations he receives.

The same is the case with other acharyas, kotharis, tyagis and brahmcharis, the petition said, claiming that when Acharya Ajendra Prasad had received $12,713 in donation when he was in the USA but did not deposit it with the trust.

It also alleged corruption in the chief kothari's appointment and said the management was even getting premium on the assets it had rented out. Besides, even though the management possessed inventories and ornaments worth lakhs of rupees, these have not been shown in the account books, the petition maintained, adding that contrary to rules, the tyagis constructed palatial houses and installed TV sets and phones from their personal expenses.