Allahabad High Court Upholds Extended Darshan Timings At Banke Bihari Temple

The Allahabad High Court has upheld the decision to extend darshan timings at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, dismissing a contempt petition filed against the high-level management committee constituted by the Supreme Court.

A single-judge bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal ruled that the committee had not violated any court order.

The court observed that the Supreme Court had set up the committee specifically to oversee daily rituals and ensure proper administration of the temple.

Acting under the apex court’s directions, the committee revised the darshan schedule to reduce crowd pressure and improve the overall experience for devotees. The High Court clarified that such a decision does not amount to contempt or breach of judicial orders.

As per the revised timings, during the summer season, devotees can offer prayers from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm and again from 4:15 pm to 9:30 pm. In the winter months, darshan will be available from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM and from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Petition and Court’s Observations

Gaurav Goswami filed the contempt petition and argued that the High Court had stayed the Mathura civil court’s order in November 2022 that sought to extend darshan timings, leaving the committee with no authority to revise the schedule. He contended that once the High Court stayed the civil court’s order, no other body could increase the darshan hours.

The High Court rejected this argument, noting that the Supreme Court-appointed committee is actively working to ease congestion inside and outside the temple and to ensure that pilgrims are provided with necessary facilities without inconvenience.

The Supreme Court constituted the high-powered temple management committee on August 8, 2025, and appointed retired Justice Ashok Kumar as its chairperson, citing administrative deadlock and internal disputes that were adversely affecting devotees.

The court entrusted the committee with supervising and monitoring daily activities within and around the temple premises.

In its meeting held on September 11, 2025, the committee approved the proposal to extend darshan timings. Subsequently, on September 19, 2025, the Mathura District Magistrate and Collector, acting as the committee’s Member Secretary, issued an office memorandum to implement the revised schedule.

The High Court concluded that since the committee was constituted by the Supreme Court and is functioning within its mandate, no contempt of court has been committed.

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