Latest news with #ShriBankeBihari
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Top court forms panel to manage Mathura's Banke Bihari temple, stays UP's plan
The Supreme Court has formed an interim committee to oversee the management of Vrindavan's Shri Banke Bihari temple. Headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar, the panel will function until the Allahabad High Court rules on the UP government's ordinance on temple court stayed the provision of the ordinance, allowing the state to form a trust for the temple. Justice Kumar will receive Rs 2 lakh per month, and committee member retired judge Mukesh Mishra will get Rs 1 lakh per month, both from temple panel will operate from Mathura, with office space provided free of cost by the district administration. It will also plan the temple's development, including land acquisition if required. Apart from four nominated Goswami representatives, no other Goswami or Sevayat will be allowed to interfere in management, though they may perform worship and offer members include a serving district or civil judge of Mathura, the district magistrate, SSP, municipal commissioner, vice-chairman of the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority, a renowned architect, an ASI representative, and two members each from both Goswami groups. - EndsMust Watch
India Today
05-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Lord Krishna was first mediator...: Top court raps UP Govt in Banke Bihari Temple case
During the ongoing hearing in the Banke Bihari Temple case on Monday, the Supreme Court remarked that Lord Krishna was also a mediator. The top court's observation came while it was contemplating an interim committee to look after the management of the iconic Shri Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan, in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh.'When you talk about mediation, he was the first mediator available. So we also try to mediate,' Justice Surya Kant is an area of extraordinary importance. We don't want to exclude anyone,' the bench said, while granting time to counsel for Uttar Pradesh to seek instructions regarding the interim arrangement. The court also called out the Uttar Pradesh government for the manner in which the state secured an order impacting the management of the Banke Bihari temple without the court hearing its current representatives.'We don't expect the state to do this. You went behind their backs without even giving notice,' the court top court was hearing petitions filed by the temple priests challenging the Banke Bihari Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, and also seeking modification of the Supreme Court's earlier order permitting the Uttar Pradesh government to utilise funds for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in is not the first time the government has been questioned by the top court. In May, when this case was heard by a different bench, Justice B.V. Nagarathna questioned why the state decided to "hijack" a litigation between two private Conduct, Alleges PetitionerSenior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, alleged that the state had 'sneaked in' and obtained a court order — originally related to another temple — without notice to the Banke Bihari temple's existing management. The court, he claimed, had no opportunity to hear the temple management before the May 15 order was passed, which was now being used to justify the the move 'startling,' Divan argued that the Banke Bihari temple is a private temple, and the state had no right to interfere without proper legal Questions State's ApproachThe ASG, representing the UP government, contended that the temple was not private, and those objecting to the ordinance were unauthorised persons. But the Court was not convinced.'Show us where this court ever intended to hear a temple representative? Why was there no public notice? We don't expect the state to move in this manner; the state should have informed,' the bench an example of how initiatives have been taken around the Golden Temple, the court added: 'Such initiatives can be taken at times instead of using legislative or executive power. You think people will say no if you speak to them? Instead, you went behind their backs.'advertisementThe court repeatedly asked the state: 'What stopped you from acquiring the land legally and paying compensation?'The court, however, clarified that the temple funds will have to be utilised for development and can't be pocketed by private persons in the name of a private Committee LikelyIn light of the controversy, the Supreme Court said it is inclined to form an interim management committee headed by a retired High Court judge. The local collector may also be included in the panel would oversee day-to-day temple affairs until the High Court decides on the validity of the ordinance.'Religious tourism is important. Heritage must be maintained. But there must be an ecosystem where pilgrims feel a sense of order, not mismanagement,' the court state has been directed to take instructions and revert. The bench clarified that the ordinance can be challenged under Article 226 before the High Court but stressed that, in the meantime, a balanced interim arrangement may be necessary.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘What was the tearing hurry?': SC questions UP govt on Banke Bihari ordinance; may put corridor nod on hold
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's move to take over the management of the Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, stating that key stakeholders had not been heard before the May 15 order allowing the corridor project was passed. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned the state's decision-making, particularly the urgency with which it enacted the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. 'What stopped you from acquiring the entire land and properties from your corpus in public interest? What was the tearing hurry in enacting the ordinance, when the matter was sub-judice? Providing basic amenities and developing the area is the duty of the state. There are numerous instances where the state's participation has helped in developing the religious places like in Golden Temple in Amritsar,' the bench observed. The court said it would pass orders on August 5 to put the May 15 direction in abeyance and appoint a retired high court or district judge to oversee daily management of the temple. The proposed committee would also include other stakeholders and focus on managing the temple and surrounding areas. The bench expressed concern about the state approaching the court without informing key parties. 'Less said the better. How do you justify the directions passed by the court? The state in the most unfortunate way came to the court in the most clandestine manner without informing the court receiver or stakeholders... Get the directions behind their back and set aside the order of the high court. This is the least thing we expect from the state,' the bench said. At present, the court is not examining the constitutionality of the ordinance. That issue will be taken up by the Allahabad High Court. The top court will instead look into interim arrangements for managing the temple and adjacent developments. 'This is the land of Lord Krishna. He was the first mediator known to the world. Let's find a way out to resolve the dispute pending for years and develop the area in the interest of lakhs of devotees who visit these iconic religious places. Basic amenities need to be created as nowadays religious tourism is one of the biggest sources of revenue,' the bench added. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, representing the state, said a member of the Goswami community had approached the court but was not supported by others. The bench questioned why all warring factions were not heard and asked whether the court receiver in charge of temple management had been consulted. The court also questioned the state's use of temple funds for acquiring five acres of land for a holding area. It asked why public funds were not used instead and again raised concern about the urgency of the ordinance when the matter was already under judicial consideration. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the temple's managing committee, said the order had been passed without giving them an opportunity to be heard. He said since it was a private temple, notice to them was necessary. The court responded by stating that the term 'private temple' was not applicable in this context, given the scale of public involvement and the number of devotees who visit annually. The top court asked Nataraj to seek instructions from the state and adjourned the matter to August 5. It clarified that the High Court would examine the legality of the ordinance and that the Supreme Court would adjust its May 15 directions accordingly. Petitioners, including members of the managing committee, have been asked to submit suggestions on how the temple affairs should be managed during the interim period. The plea, filed through advocate Tanvi Dubey on behalf of the temple's management committee, challenges the ordinance which hands over control of the temple to a state-administered trust. On May 15, the Supreme Court had allowed the Uttar Pradesh government's impleadment application and permitted the development of a temple corridor at Vrindavan, using temple funds. That order may now be placed on hold pending further directions. (With inputs form agencies)
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hema Malini backs Banke Bihari Corridor, says ‘everyone, including Goswamis, will benefit'
Agra: Mathura BJP MP Hema Malini has welcomed the Supreme Court's (SC) order permitting the construction of the Banke Bihari Corridor in Vrindavan, saying, "The decision is timely and necessary, as the increasing number of devotees visiting the temple has led to challenges in managing darshan. " She added, "The number of devotees is growing day by day, and in such circumstances, we keep hearing distressing news. The SC's decision is a welcome step." Regarding concerns raised by the Goswami community, the MP said the project would benefit all stakeholders. "Everyone will benefit from this... Our govt works keeping everyone in mind. The Goswami community, who perform puja and maintain the temple, will also benefit," she said. Established in 1862 in the heart of Vrindavan, the Shri Banke Bihari temple is administered by Shebaits — a hereditary priesthood responsible for daily rituals and temple management. It remains one of North India's most visited pilgrimage sites. The top court's May 15 verdict came amid ongoing protests by members of the Goswami community and local residents, who have opposed both the corridor project and the formation of Banke Bihari Temple Trust. The court's decision, delivered by a bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma, cleared the way for the govt to move ahead with its Rs 500 crore redevelopment plan, which includes acquiring nearly five acres of land near the shrine, using temple funds. Calls for redevelopment intensified after a stampede-like incident during Janmashtami celebrations in 2022, which left two dead. In Sept 2023, the Allahabad high court directed the state govt to implement a corridor plan for improved crowd management and safety. While officials claim stakeholders were consulted, Shebaits and local residents have alleged they were excluded from the planning process.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
SC slams UP govt for 'hijacking' litigation between private parties in Banke Bihari temple case
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for 'hijacking' the litigation between two private parties over management of the Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said that if the state government starts entering into private disputes between parties, it will result in a 'breakdown of the rule of law.' The bench asked the counsel appearing for the state, 'Was a state a party to the proceedings? In what capacity has the state entered the dispute? If states start entering into a private dispute between parties it will breakdown of rule of law. You can't hijack the litigation. In a private litigation between two parties, state filing an impleadment application and hijacking it is not permissible.' The observation of the apex court came while hearing a petition seeking the modification of its order permitting the Uttar Pradesh government to utilise funds from the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan to purchase five acres of land around the temple for corridor development. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioner Devendra Nath Gooswami, told the bench that fund of Rs 300 crore has been given to the Uttar Pradesh government without making him the party in the case. 'They can't take away the funds of private temple,' said Sibal. On the other hand, counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government told the bench the state has passed an Ordinance and set up a trust to manage the Banke Bihari temple and oversee work on the proposed corridor. 'Now enactment has come to force. Funds are with Trust not with state. This enforcement will dilute the direction of the apex court. State is not using the funds. The Ordinance bars state from implementing the court's direction and the Ordinance says Trust will manage funds and state has no role to play,' said the counsel of Uttar Pradesh. The apex court then directed the counsel for the state government to place on record a copy of the Ordinance passed with regard to the Trust and directed the concerned Principal Secretary to file an affidavit by July 29. The petition filed by Gooswami said he was a 'lineal descendant' of the temple's founder Swami Hari Das Goswami and his family had been managing the affairs of the sacred temple for the last 500 years. He said he was actively involved in managing the temple's daily religious and administrative affairs. Filing the plea, he said the implementation of the proposed redevelopment project was practically unfeasible, and any attempt for redevelopment of the temple premises without the involvement and inputs of those who were historically and operationally associated with the temple's functioning was likely to result in administrative chaos. On May 15, the top court had permitted the state to use Trust's fund and also allowed the use of Sri Banke Bihari Temple Trust's fixed deposits after taking into note state government's Rs. 500 crore development plan for the corridor. The apex court had modified the order of the Allahabad High Court, which had prohibited the purchase of land around the temple using its funds. The top court had taken into note the records placed by the government regarding the proposed scheme for development for the temple. The apex court's approval to the state government's development plan for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor had come particularly in light of incidents such as the 2022 stampede at the Banke Bihari Temple. The top court had also taken into note of maladministration in temples in the Braj region and emphasised that effective temple governance is not only a legal requirement but also a matter of public and spiritual welfare. (ANI)
