Exploiting the deity; affluent allowed special pujas: Supreme Court on Banke Bihari Temple darshan timings

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the High-Powered Temple Management Committee and the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea taking objection to the darshan timings and temple practices set by the court-constituted committee at Bankey Bihari Ji Temple [Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple & Another vs. High Powered Temple Management Committee].

The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi prima facie opined that the "current setup" amounted to exploiting the deity.

During the hearing, CJI Kant remarked,

“After closing the temple at 12 noon, they do not allow the deity to rest even for a minute. They exploit the deity the most at this time. All affluent people who can pay the most hefty amounts are allowed to do special pujas.”

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple (petitioner) which is a temple management body constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025.

The petitioner moved the Court objecting to certain decisions by the High Powered Committee formed by the top court in August this year.

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, representing petitioner, raised concerns over changes in darshan timings and temple practices, stressing that such matters require careful handling.

"This requires a degree of sensitivity and see the change is darshan timings," Divan said.

Divan also emphasised the importance of maintaining traditional timings while ensuring public safety.

He noted that modifications, such as the discontinuation of the Dhairya puja between Guru and Shishya, and traffic management for darshan, were made to prevent stampedes and crowding. He said,

"We don't want a situation where there is a stampede, etc. That is why there needs to be traffic control. This is not just a timing issue and is very much tied into the tradition."

He stressed that privileged darshan should not be allowed after CJI Kant noted,

"They invite people who can pay hefty amounts. They put a curtain and perform special pujas."

The Court then sought the response of the High Powered Committee and the State of Uttar Pradesh.

At the hearing, the bench also directed that the member secretary of the High-Powered Temple Committee be added as a respondent.

The matter will be heard next in the first week of January.

The 1939 Scheme of Management has long guided the administration and rituals of the Bankey Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, outlining specific roles for temple authorities in overseeing darshan timings, ritual practices, and temple finances.

The Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, seeks to replace this framework with a State-controlled trust.

The move had sparked debate over how much the government should be involved in religious institutions and what impact it could have on traditional temple practices.

In August 2025, the Supreme Court set up a high-powered committee to oversee the temple’s day-to-day operations.

This was while hearing a challenge to the ordinance. The Court, however, refused to entertain the challenge to the ordinance itself, and left it to the Allahabad High Court to decide the same.

Headed by former Allahabad High Court Justice Ashok Kumar, the high Powered Committee was tasked with providing basic amenities such as clean drinking water, functional washrooms, shelters, dedicated crowd corridors, and special facilities for vulnerable devotees.

It was also empowered to plan the overall development of the temple and its surroundings, including land acquisition if necessary.

The Petitioners and the temple Sevayats were represented through Senior Advocate Shyam Divan along with advocate Tanvi Dubey.

[Live Coverage]