"Lakhs of Devotees Visit, How Can it be Private?" SC's Sharp Query in Banke Bihari Temple Case

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court on Monday heard the issue of using Rs 500 crore from the temple fund to build the Banke Bihari corridor in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The petitions challenge the ordinance of the UP government according to which the management of the temple has been handed over to a trust of the state government.

On this, the apex court has advised the UP government and the temple trust to resolve the issue through talks. The bench said, 'Lord Krishna was the first mediator. Please resolve the issue through talks in this matter.'

It has been said in the petitions that Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple is a private religious institution. Through this ordinance, the government is trying to indirectly control the temple. Senior advocate Shyam Dewan, while pleading for the petitioners, argued that it is a private temple. Justice Suryakant said that the income of the temple is not only for you but also for temple development plans. Petitioners' lawyer Shyam Dewan said that the state wants to use the temple's money to buy land. The court said that the state does not seem to intend to usurp the temple's money, they are spending it on the development of the temple. Shyam Dewan said that the government is usurping our money, my temple is a private temple. On this, the court said, you are calling a religious place "private". This is an illusion. Where lakhs of devotees come, how can it be private? Management can be private, but how can a deity be private.

The Supreme Court has proposed an interim arrangement for the management of Banke Bihari temple, in which it is suggested to appoint a retired High Court judge or senior district judge as the manager of the temple. The court clarified that at present the constitutionality of the UP government's ordinance is not being examined. The Supreme Court talked about promoting religious tourism and sought suggestions from all parties, citing examples like Tirupati, Shirdi. The court has indicated that it may form a committee for this under the chairmanship of a retired judge.