India, Aug. 19 -- A report from the special investigation team (SIT) exonerating two prominent former functionaries of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust might bring relief to the individuals but the systemic lapses flagged by the probe are a matter of grave concern and raise questions about the competence of the people managing one of India's most important shrines.

The report by the SIT - one of two looking into allegations of irregularities in the Ram Temple donation collections - found gross lapses in the trust's functioning, an absence of adequate checks or professional financial management and inadequate supervision at multiple levels. Damningly, the SIT found there was no dedicated finance and audit cell, no standard op...