Banke Bihari Temple : Supreme Court Asks Committee To Consider Goswamis' Suggestions; Urges UP Govt To Come With Development Plan

The Supreme Court on Tuesday impressed upon the committee administering the Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple at Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, to take measures to restore the traditional religious practices and to improve crowd management and day-to-day functioning, considering the suggestions given by the two groups of Goswamis.

The Court allowed the nomination of two members each from the two groups of Goswamis- Shayan Bhog and Raj Bhog- and allowed them to give suggestions to the committee.

The Court expressed the hope that the committee will take a decision after duly considering the suggestions. In August last year, the Court had constituted a committee headed by former Allahabad HC Judge Justice Ashok Kumar to administer the temple, while staying the operation of Ordinance brought by the Uttar Pradesh Government for its management.

Today, considering the applications filed by Goswamis seeking consideration of their suggestions for the better management of the temple, the bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed in the order :

"With a view to ensure that the suggestions with respect to allowing the traditional religious practices to the extent possible, without any exploitation of visitors and other day to day rituals, we have recommended that among the two groups of Goswamis, namely from Shayan Bhog, Rajat Goswami and Shailendra Goswami, and from Raj Bhog sect Gopesh Goswami and Himanshu Goswami should be nominated to the committee.

All of them shall jointly give suggestions for improvement of traditional and  religious practices and the day-to-day functioning of the temple.

We have no reason to doubt that such suggestions shall be given due consideration by the committee constituted by this Court."

The Court added that the suggestions may also be made in respect to temple timings.

State asked to come out with development plans

The Court also urged the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare and submit a comprehensive development plan for the holistic development of the area surrounding the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, stressing the need for upgraded infrastructure and better crowd management facilities for devotees.

The Court observed that the State must take the lead in developing infrastructure in and around the temple campus, noting that improvements may be required for road widening and regulation of commercial activity along the roads leading to the temple.

The bench said basic public amenities must be considered as part of the plan, including hospitals, drinking water facilities, restrooms, hotels, emergency exits, public transport, and electric vehicles for senior citizens, apart from any other measures the State may deem appropriate.

“A development plan for the entire area is required,” the Court observed.

Accordingly, the Court said it has “impressed upon the State government as well as the committee” to prepare and place a report before it outlining the proposed development measures.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Committee, informed the bench that a Master Plan is being prepared.

Hearing

Appearing for the applicants, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan submitted that there was considerable dissatisfaction among temple members over changes in daily timings for rituals, contending that the modifications were only a temporary arrangement introduced by an ad hoc committee pending adjudication of a constitutional challenge before the High Court.

He argued that several rituals were deeply embedded in temple tradition and should not be altered for administrative convenience.

“This is deeply engrained in the rituals, there should not be any change in timings,” Divan submitted, adding that there had been an uninterrupted tradition of conducting specified rituals, including the waking of the deity, at fixed times.

Divan also objected to restrictions on the location of ritual performance, submitting that daily pujas had historically been conducted at a particular place within the temple and should not be shifted for administrative reasons. He further raised concerns over a requirement of payment of Rs 1 lakh for certain summer rituals, describing it as excessive.

He told the Court that the petitioners had made constructive recommendations on crowd management but had received no response. He also sought reduction of bright halogen lighting inside the temple, saying devotees believed the deity was a living presence and such lighting could be offensive to religious sentiments.

Responding to the concerns, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj said the authorities could convene a meeting with the Goswamis and place their suggestions before the Court. He also informed the bench that land acquisition was underway to address infrastructure constraints, stating that around 14 sale deeds had already been executed. While the temple fund was presently being used for the purchases, he said the State government could reimburse the amount if the Court considered it appropriate.

Nataraj further submitted that the authorities were contemplating a master plan for the larger area surrounding the temple.

Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, for a devotee, suggested that the darshan timings need to be increased considering the increase in number of devotees.

Court raises concerns about crowd management, facilities

Taking note of the severe infrastructural limitations, the Court observed that the narrow approach roads to the temple posed serious safety concerns, noting that fatal incidents had occurred in the past.

“Crowd management cannot be done in the conventional sense. You have to deploy some modern technology and advanced systems to identify points where people can be halted and managed in phases,” the Chief Justice observed.

The Court emphasised that for the holistic development of the temple precinct, the State must take the lead in upgrading infrastructure in and around the temple campus. It noted that road widening and regulation of commercial activity along the approach roads may be necessary.

The bench said the development plan should include basic public amenities such as hospitals, drinking water, restrooms, hotels, emergency exits, public transport, and electric vehicles for senior citizens, along with any other facilities the State may consider appropriate.

The Court also indicated that traditional religious practices may be restored, while ensuring there is no malpractice in the name of donations or creation of any privileged class among devotees.

“We are not using the word essential or anything, but the traditional religious practice may be restored, provided there is no exploitation or undue advantage,” the CJI observed.

The CJI also underscored the need for improved civic discipline among devotees, expressing concern over cleanliness in the temple premises.

"Also some civic sense needs to be learnt by the people. They will throw water, flowers etc. The cleanliness is extremely important. All photographs show throwing everything why should it should it happen? And timing has to be restricted so that rituals can continue but there is no exploitation or undue advantage."

Justice Bagchi noted that unlike larger temple complexes such as Tirupati, the Banke Bihari Temple faced unique spatial limitations due to its narrow alleys and relatively compact structure.

Case : MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THAKUR SHREE BANKEY BIHARI JI MAHARAJ TEMPLE AND ANR. Versus STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ORS., W.P.(C) No. 704/2025 (and connected cases)