Latest news with #ShriBankeBihari
Time of India
5 days ago
- 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)
News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Break Rule Of Law': SC Raps UP Govt For 'Hijacking' Litigation In Banke Bihari Temple Case
Last Updated: The apex court was hearing a petition to modify is order, which had approved Uttar Pradesh government's redevelopment scheme for the Shri Banke Bihari temple using its funds. The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for 'hijacking" the litigation between two private parties over management of the famous Shri Thakur Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. A bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma rapped the state government and said if the state government starts entering into a private dispute between parties, it will result in breakdown of rule of law. '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," the top court remarked as quoted by news agency PTI. '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 bench observed. The apex court was hearing a petition to modify is order, which had approved Uttar Pradesh government's redevelopment scheme for the Shri Banke Bihari temple using its funds. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioner Devendra Nath Goswami, claiming to be direct descent from Swami Sri Hari Das Ji Goswami, the temple's 16th century founder, said that the fund of Rs 300 crore has been given to the Uttar Pradesh government without making us the party. 'How can you by an order in another petition direct that earning of a private temple be handed over to the state," Sibal submitted. The counsel appearing for the UP government informed the Supreme Court that the state has formed a trust to manage the holy shrine and oversee work on the proposed corridor. Entire money would rest with the trust, not with the government by virtue of the enactment, said the UP government's lawyer. 'People have died in temple," said the UP government lawyer, spotlighting the pinched streets around the temple and underlining that building a corridor is essential. The top court directed the counsel for the state government to give a copy of the ordinance passed with regard to the trust to the petitioner and directed the concerned principal secretary to file an affidavit by July 29. Supreme Court Clears Banke Bihari Corridor Earlier on May 15, the top court paved the way for the state government's scheme to develop the temple corridor for the benefit of scores of devotees. The bench had allowed the Uttar Pradesh government's plea to utilise the funds of Shri Banke Bihari Temple only for the purchase of 5-acre land around the temple to create a holding area. Under the proposed scheme placed on record by the state for development for the temple, the court said, 5 acre land around the temple had to be acquired and developed by constructing parking lots, accommodation for the devotees, toilets, security check posts and other amenities. On May 19, Goswami filed a plea and 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. The Supreme Court's May 15 verdict modified the November 8, 2023, order of the Allahabad High Court on a PIL filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, which accepted the state's ambitious scheme but refused to permit the state to utilise the temple funds. Banke Bihari Temple The Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is one of the most revered and famous temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. It holds immense significance for devotees due to its unique customs, rich history, and the belief that Lord Krishna, in the form of Banke Bihari, directly interacts with his devotees. Banke Bihari literally means 'bent in three places". The idol of Lord Krishna stands in the Tribhanga posture, a graceful threefold bending form, which is characteristic of Lord Krishna.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'If states start entering private disputes ... ': SC pulls up UP government for 'hijacking' Banke Bihari Temple dispute
Representative Image NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for intervening in a private legal dispute over the management of the iconic Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, accusing it of 'hijacking' the case. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma questioned the state's involvement, stating, 'If states start entering private disputes, it will lead to a breakdown of the rule of law. You can't hijack litigation between private parties.' The court was hearing a plea seeking modification of its earlier order that cleared the way for the UP government's temple redevelopment plan. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal , representing petitioner Devendra Nath Gooswami, argued that Rs 300 crore was allocated to the state for the project without making his client, linked to the temple's original founders, a party to the case, news agency PTI reported. 'How can earnings of a private temple be handed over to the state through an order in an unrelated petition?' Sibal questioned. In response, the state's counsel said the government had created a trust to oversee the redevelopment and manage temple affairs, and that the funds would vest with the trust, not the government—under a specific ordinance. The bench directed the state to share a copy of the ordinance with the petitioner and asked the relevant principal secretary to file an affidavit by July 29. Earlier on May 15, the court had allowed the state to use temple funds for purchasing five acres of land around the shrine to develop facilities such as parking, toilets, and accommodation for devotees. However, on May 19, Gooswami—who claims to be a direct descendant of temple founder Swami Haridas Goswami—challenged the redevelopment plan, arguing it was unfeasible without consultation with those historically involved in the temple's functioning. He warned it could disrupt the temple's religious and cultural fabric. The Supreme Court's earlier ruling had modified a November 2023 Allahabad High Court order that accepted the state's development plan but barred use of temple funds.
