Supreme Court proposes interim committee to handle Bankey Bihari temple

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 8, 2025) proposed to switch its May 15 judgment which permitted the Uttar Pradesh authorities to make use of funds from the Shri Bankey Bihari Temple at Vrindavan for buying 5 acres of land across the temple for hall improvement.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi orally addressed the legal professionals within the case that the May 15 verdict could be modified to the extent that it will not have an effect on the rights of the stakeholders within the temple.

Justice Kant’s remarks got here after senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, showing for the petitioners, submitted that the ordinance can’t be allowed to proceed in its current type.

On August 4, the apex court docket had come down closely on the Uttar Pradesh Government for the “tearing hurry” through which it had promulgated the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, to take over the administration of the temple.

The apex court docket had additionally criticised the style through which the State secured instructions from the Supreme Court via a May 15 judgment to make use of temple funds for the hall improvement mission with out listening to the temple’s conventional administration or affected events.

The Bench mentioned it will, in its proposed judgment, additional give the petitioners liberty to problem the ordinance earlier than the Allahabad High Court. The court docket mentioned it didn’t need to make any feedback on the deserves of the ordinance.

“We will grant you liberty to problem the ordinance earlier than the High Court. The structure of the committee as per the ordinance can be saved in abeyance in order that the ordinance isn’t given impact until the matter is set by the High Court,” Justice Kant mentioned orally.

The court docket advised the events that it will additionally preserve in abeyance a provision mandating the structure of a committee or belief to handle the temple.

Instead, Justice Kant mentioned an interim committee headed by a retired High Court choose and comprising native officers, just like the District Collector, and Goswamis could be fashioned to maintain the event of the temple and the legislation and order state of affairs round its premises. The court docket mentioned it didn’t desire a repeat of the 2022 tragedy when a stampede occurred on the temple throughout Janmashtami celebrations.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj mentioned the State authorities was shifting to ratify the ordinance within the Assembly. The court docket mentioned the keep wouldn’t have an effect on the federal government’s motion.

The Bench, in an order, stayed pending proceedings within the High Court on writ petitions filed towards the ordinance. The apex court docket additionally stayed a July 21 order of a Single Judge of the High Court through which sure observations had been made concerning the ordinance.

In the earlier listening to, Mr. Nataraj had mentioned the federal government was eager to develop the temple by offering higher services to worshippers like within the circumstances of Ayodhya and Kashi.

“The temple is historic. About 20,000 to 30,000 folks come to worship on the temple daily. Weekends see two to 3 lakh devotees. There is a requirement for higher services, higher administration. There has been mismanagement of funds,” Mr. Nataraj had submitted.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the present temple administration, had objected to the submission of “mismanagement of funds”.

“This is the land of Lord Krishna. He was the primary mediator recognized to the world. Let’s discover a method out to resolve the dispute pending for years and develop the realm within the curiosity of lakhs of devotees who go to these iconic non secular locations. Basic facilities must be created as these days non secular tourism is among the greatest sources of income,” Justice Kant had orally noticed in an earlier listening to. eom