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Uttar Pradesh's Stance on Temple Ordinance

On Tuesday, the government of Uttar Pradesh informed the Supreme Court that it does not plan to infringe upon any religious rights through the recently enacted 2025 Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance.

This ordinance, which was approved earlier this year, grants the state authority to oversee the management of the Banke Bihari temple located in Vrindavan, Mathura district.

It suggests establishing a statutory trust that includes several state officials as ex-officio trustees, a significant shift from the temple's traditional private management.

A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi is currently reviewing petitions challenging the ordinance. On Monday, the bench expressed concerns regarding the rapid pace at which the state government enacted the law.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the state, stated that the ordinance would soon be presented to the Assembly for ratification. He emphasized that the ordinance aims to enhance the temple's administration.

Nataraj reassured the court, stating, “The state has never intended, nor does it intend, to interfere with the religious rights of any party. The ordinance is solely focused on secular activities to improve temple administration.”

He also mentioned that the temple attracts approximately 20,000 to 30,000 visitors daily, with numbers soaring to two to three lakh on weekends, indicating a need for improved facilities and management due to previous financial mismanagement.

However, Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the existing temple management, contested the claims of financial mismanagement, asserting that no such allegations had been made previously.

After reviewing a proposal from the state, the bench scheduled the next hearing for Friday, allowing petitioners to present their suggestions. The court also requested both parties to recommend a retired High Court judge to lead a committee overseeing the temple's management as a temporary measure.

Supreme Court Critiques UP Government's Actions

On Monday, the bench criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its “clandestine” approach in seeking permission to utilize temple funds for a corridor project through a civil dispute application.

This criticism stemmed from a May 15 ruling that permitted the government to use temple funds to acquire five acres of land for developing a corridor, with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.

The Supreme Court modified a 2023 Allahabad High Court ruling that had allowed the corridor's development but prohibited the use of Rs 262.5 crore from the temple's funds.

The May 15 ruling was conditional upon the acquired land being registered in the deity's name. On Monday, the bench suggested recalling the directives from the May 15 decision.

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