SC To Hear Plea Challenging UP Govt Ordinance On Banke Bihari Temple Corridor

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai will decide when the Supreme Court will hear the petition challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s 2025 Ordinance related to the proposed corridor at Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

Shri Banke Bihari Trust filed the plea, questioning the ordinance’s constitutionality and claiming it interferes with the temple’s administration despite a related case still pending in the Allahabad High Court.

The petition refers to a 350-member management committee and Sevayat Rajat Goswami, who alleges that the government acted with malice by passing the ordinance.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the trust, argued that the state is taking over temple administration without any allegations of fraud.

“The ordinance takes everything in its hands,” Sibal said.

Court Highlights Public Interest and Jurisdiction

Justice Suryakant, heading the bench, asked why the petitioner had not gone to the High Court. Sibal responded that the temple holds property worth ₹300 crore, and the Supreme Court had earlier passed an order on redevelopment without making the temple a party.

He added that the court will hear that case tomorrow, and the ordinance addresses the same issue. Justice Suryakant said the court could hear the matter the day after tomorrow, and Sibal agreed to mention it to the CJI.

The court noted the need for development in areas that attract lakhs of devotees. It described the situation as ‘ad hoc’ and asked how many legislative orders manage temples across India.

Advocate Sarthak Chaturvedi, representing the UP government, said the ordinance does not touch the temple’s funds. He cited Sections 5 and 7, which state that only the board and trustees will manage the temple.

The corridor will built across 5.65 acres around the existing temple.

The court assured that devotees’ darshan at the Banke Bihari temple will continue during the corridor’s construction. The plan was proposed after two devotees died in a 2022 stampede during Mangala Aarti on Janmashtami.

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