Banke Bihari Temple : Supreme Court Issues Notice To High-Powered Committee On Plea Challenging Change Of Darshan Timings

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi was hearing the writ petition filed by the Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple. Notice has been issued to the respondents returnable on January 7, 2026.

The petitioners in the writ petition are the Management Committee of the temple through Gopesh Goswami from Shayan Bhog seva, and Rajat Goswami.

The plea challenges the decisions of the High Powered Temple Management Committee, Vrindavan (Mathura), relating to the change in the temple's darshan timings and discontinuation of the Dehri Pooja.

In August, the temple administration was placed under the supervision of a High-Powered Committee, led by Justice Ashok Kumar, former Allahabad High Court Judge.

On the issue of change in the temple timings, the plea states that it is contrary to the earlier direction of the Top Court in the order dated August 8, where it was clarified that there will be no intervention by the High Powered Committee in the internal temple functioning, which included the practice of conducting of puja/seva and prasad. 

The plea also states that the High Powered Committee's stopping of the Dehri Pooja, done between Guru and Shishyas, is also contrary to the August 8 directions. It states : 

"The Dehri Pooja is performed when the Temple is closed for the General Public, i.e., Early Morning between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM, in Afternoon between 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM and at Night between 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM. The reason for performing the Dehri Pooja is because the Dehri is treated as feet of the deity and devotees offer ittar service (fragnance service), flowers and prayers at the Dehri, which is considered sacred as the feet of God. Therefore, stopping an essential religious custom such as the Dehri Pooja at the temple is arbitrary, unjust and capricious. Furthermore, it directly interferes with the rights of the Goswami's and is violative of Article 25 and Article 26(b) of the Constitution of India, as the conduct of the Respondent is a direct interference in the essential religious practice." 

The petitioners are also aggrieved by the High Powered Committee's usage of temple funds for clearing car rentals and also the process followed by it for the appointment of the Goswamis within the High Powered Committee. The plea states that the Chairman of the committee bypassed the selection rule of having a majority consent. 

"The Goswami's made multiple requests to the Ld. Chairperson to consider appointment of the names of Goswami's who were selected through majority consent, however, all requests were in vain. The Petitioner also requested the Ld. Chairperson to appoint the Goswami's in terms of resolution dated 13.06.2025 or conduct an independent election process. To their surprise, there has been no action taken on the said request and amongst the selected people only one (Mr. Shailendra Goswami) is from the list of names which were given in resolution dated 13.06.2025. Apart from him, all three are separate names who are not selected through majority consent." 

On August 8, the Court constituted a High-Powered Committee led by Justice Ashok Kumar, former Allahabad High Court Judge, to oversee and supervise the day-to-day functioning of the Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple at Vrindavan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

The Court constituted this Committee while suspending the operation of the Committee constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. The Court relegated the challenge to the Constitutional validity of the Ordinance to the Allahabad High Court. Till the High Court decides the matter, the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court will be in charge of the temple.

 The petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record Tanvi Dubey.

Sr Advocate Shyam Divan and AOR Tanvi Dubey appeared for the petitioners.

Also from the hearing - Supreme Court Criticises 'Special Pujas' In Temples By Rich Devotees During Deity's Resting Time

Case Details : MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THAKUR SHREE BANKEY BIHARI JI MAHARAJ TEMPLE AND ANR. Versus SHREE BANKEY BIHARI JI MANDIR HIGH POWERED MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND ORS | W.P.(C) No. 1228/2025