SC nod for UP govt to use Banke Bihari temple funds for corridor project
THE SUPREME Court on Thursday cleared the Uttar Pradesh government's proposal to use funds from the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan for buying five acres around it for a corridor project, emphasising that the land proposed to be purchased 'shall be in the name of the deity/(temple) trust.'
In November 2023, the Allahabad High Court, while clearing the corridor plan, had restrained the state from using temple funds for buying the land.
The state challenged this through an intervention application filed in a case in which it was hearing a matter related to the administration and safety of temples in the Braj region.
Allowing the plea, a bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and S C Sharma said, 'it is in public interest to decide the issue… expeditiously.'
Referring to the proposed scheme placed on record by the state of UP for development of the temple, it said, 'upon a perusal of the same and the consequent assessments, it has been ascertained that five acres around the temple is to be acquired and developed by constructing parking lots, accommodation for the devotees, toilets, security check posts and other amenities. As observed by the High Court vide order dated 08.11.2023, the acquisition of land around the temple and the consequent development project is crucial to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.'
The court said 'the State of UP has undertaken to incur costs of more than Rs 500 Crores to develop the corridor. However, they propose to utilise the Temple funds for purchasing the land in question; which was denied by the High Court vide order dated 08.11.2023. We permit the State of Uttar Pradesh to implement the Scheme in its entirety.'
The ruling said 'the Banke Bihari Ji Trust is having fixed deposits in the name of the Deity/Temple. In the considered opinion of this Court, the State Government is permitted to utilise the amount lying in the fixed deposit to acquire the land proposed. But the land acquired for purposes of development of the temple and corridor shall be in the name of the Deity/Trust.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 minutes ago
- Hans India
Mayor lays foundation stones for development works
Visakhapatnam: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao mentioned that development programmes are being undertaken in all wards to steer Visakhapatnam towards the progress path. On Saturday, he, along with Visakhapatnam south constituency MLA CH Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav, laid foundation stones and inaugurated several project works under the GVMC jurisdiction taken up in the constituency at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore. Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor stated that the coalition government is functioning with a primary goal of developing the state on all fronts. He stressed that under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the coalition government has made plans to provide necessary infrastructure and improved amenities to the public across the wards. A total of Rs 3.5 crore has been allocated for various works in the segment, including cement roads, drainage canals, construction and repairs of community halls, borewells, park renovation, compound walls, arches and other development activities at various localities, said Srinivasa Rao. Areas such as Gollalapalem, Chakali Gedda, Gangula Gedda, Bhupesh Nagar, Allipuram SC Colony road, Bowdara road, Coconut Garden, Mantha Vari Veedhi, Market main road, Sunnapu Veedhi Panja Junction, Government Victoria Hospital, Kotha Agraharam, Kotha Jalaripeta and Golla Veedhi will be developed with the funds received, he informed. The Mayor directed the GVMC engineering department officials to ensure that the works begin at the earliest and that contractors should complete the works with quality within the stipulated time. Speaking on the occasion, South constituency MLA CH Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav stated that infrastructure would be given top priority in each ward. The MLA expressed gratitude to the Mayor for sanctioning and initiating several development works in the constituency. He emphasised that the coalition government is committed to develop Visakhapatnam in a way that garners national recognition. GVMC Jana Sena Party floor leader B Vasantha Lakshmi, corporators Bipin Kumar Jain, M. Mary Jones, Ch Janaki Ram and G Vijaya Lakshmi, GVMC 4th Zonal Commissioner Mallayya Naidu, Executive Engineer U.N. Narasinga Rao, deputy executive engineer Venkateswara Rao, party workers and leaders were present.
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Delhi CM's Shalimar Bagh constituency to see major upgrades. What's on the cards?
Shalimar Bagh, the constituency of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is set to undergo a major upgrade. This will include road improvement, neat entry points, as well as the development of schools and hospitals. According to senior officials in the Public Works Department (PWD), a meeting in this regard was held under the Chief Secretary, where various issues related to the Shalimar Bagh constituency in Northwest Delhi were discussed. Officials from the PWD, Traffic Police, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and others concerned were present. To address traffic congestion in Shalimar Bagh, the department has proposed several measures. Road widening: The road coming from Pitampura and Ring Road to Singlapur narrows down from 80 feet to 20-40 feet for a distance of about 50 metres. To address this, officials said, 'The DDA was asked to hand over a piece of land (412 sqm) in its park to widen Singlapur road… the matter was also taken up with the Haryana government to hand over a parcel of land adjoining DDA park (503 sqm) in AP-Block to the PWD.' 'In lieu of transferring the AP-Block park land to widen the road, an equal portion of vacant land that belongs to the DDA in BI-Block of Shalimar Bagh can be used as a green space… DDA has been directed to expedite the case,' read a document. Upgrading signboards, entry points: The PWD has been asked to upgrade signboards on major roads of 80 feet and 60 right-of-way (RoW) in Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura. Entry points to Shalimar Bagh will also get an upgrade in the form of designer lamps, lights, and green plantation, said officials. 'As it is a policy matter, a standard drawing for the improvement of entry points to Shalimar Bagh is being prepared by a PWD architect. It will then be sent for approval to the competent authority… other roads that are damaged — Ram Bagh, Pitampura, and Haiderpur — will be repaired and beautified,' officials said. Traffic solutions for other roads: The Traffic Police and PWD have been directed to provide solutions to heavy traffic at the Madhuban Chowk intersection. A skywalk has been proposed from the nearby Metro station to Rohini court at this intersection to ease pedestrian footfall, said officials. A flyover or underpass at Peeragarhi intersection, a pain point on Rohtak road, is being planned, at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore. There is also a proposal to widen the overbridge along the Ring Road going towards Mangolpuri; build a flyover at Laxmi Narayan Mandir Road; construct U-turns for right-turning traffic at Chaudhary Balbir Singh Marg and improve pedestrian access with a proposed foot overbridge (FoB). Apart from this, the PWD is planning to construct a flyover or underpass at Ring Road near Chandgi Ram Akhara intersection, Shadipur Depot, Deshbandhu Gupta Road opposite Paharganj up to Ajmeri Gate, Majnu ka Tila, and ITO intersection. All these stretches provide direct connectivity to Shalimar Bagh. The PWD has floated tenders to carry out a feasibility study.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Four arrested after Noida bizman's murder unveils currency scam
Noida: Four men have been arrested in Noida for their alleged involvement in a currency exchange scam that culminated in the murder of a 40-year-old businessman earlier this week. The suspects, part of a well-oiled ring, used a network of rented flats, staged foreign exchange deals, and violent tactics to trap and rob currency dealers. The suspects were identified as Ajay Kumar Sharma (48) and his son Mukul Sharma (25), both from Ghaziabad's Indirapuram, along with Akash Upadhyay (24) from Mahoba and Aryan Yadav (25) from Delhi. Police said Mukul and Akash were injured in a gunfight while attempting to flee a checkpoint near Noida's Sector 54. Officers recovered firearms, a stolen motorcycle and cash—both Indian and foreign—worth Rs 10.3 lakh from them. The case came to light after Ompal Bhati, a currency exchange operator from Sector 18, was shot dead in a rented flat in Sector 12. Bhati had reportedly gone there to exchange Rs 10 lakh in cash after being lured into a fake currency deal. Police said the group's modus operandi involved scouting for currency dealers, posing as genuine clients seeking to convert foreign currency, and renting properties briefly with token deposits to stage deals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Once the target arrived with cash, the accused would rob them at gunpoint and flee. Investigators revealed that Ajay Sharma masterminded the operations while his son Mukul, Akash, and Aryan surveyed and met with victims. In Bhati's case, the group had claimed they wanted to exchange Canadian dollars worth Rs 7 lakh. Akash even withdrew Rs 3 lakh to lend credibility to the fake deal. After Bhati arrived at the Sector 12 flat, the suspects attempted to rob him, but he resisted and was fatally shot. The group contacted Ajay post the murder, who advised them to take shelter at Aryan's house in Delhi. Police say they had defrauded another exchange operator of 8,000 dirhams just before their arrest. All four have been charged with murder, fraud, and possession of illegal firearms. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
