New Delhi, Sept. 27: The Supreme Court today sought responses of the Union and the Bihar governments, Archaeological Survey of India and others on a PIL seeking national monument status to the famed Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya.

A bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice M.Y. Eqbal issued notices on the PIL filed by Arup Brahmachari, a Buddhist monk, who besides seeking a national monument status for the temple also wanted auditing of the shrine’s income, assets by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India annually to avoid misappropriation.

The petition filed through counsel Ravi Shankar Kumar alleged that large-scale irregularities were being committed in the temple managed by a trust. “The petitioner most humbly prays and seeks the indulgence of this honourable court for declaring and assigning the Mahabodhi temple as a “national monument” and the same be protected under the provisions of The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Rules, as well as, [The] Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972,” the petition said.