"They Don’t Let the Deity Rest": Supreme Court Issues Notice To High-powered Committee Of Bankey Bihari Temple For Change Of Timings

The Supreme Court, today, issued notice to the High-Power Management Committee of Shri Bankey Bihari Temple, Vrindavan, in a plea challenging the change of timings of the temple.

The Court raised concern that after the midday closing, the temple management prevents the deity from resting, using that time instead for exploiting the deity by allowing affluent individuals to perform special poojas for a hefty payment.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipil M Pancholi ordered, "The high-powered temple management committee through the District Magistrate/Collector, Mathura, who is the member secretary, is ordered to be impleaded as a Party-Respondent. Issue notice to high-powered temple management committee as well as the State of UP, Mathura and Vrindavan."

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the Management Committee of Shree Bankey Bihari Temple, submitted that the alteration of darshan timing is a matter of critical importance to the associated rituals. He emphasized the profound significance accorded to these specific timings, asserting that they lack the element of flexibility often found in other temples.

CJI remarked, “If the hours of darshana, pooja or aradhana are increased, what is the problem?"

Divan said, "There is an issue, there is a very important issue. This required a degree of sensitivity, having regard to the nature of the temple...The change in the timing of the temple, has led to the change in the timing of the important ritual which is performed, including the ritual when the deity sleeps and wakes up."

CJI said, "See, they will not bring this on record. What they do is, after closing the temple at 12 noon or 12:30, they don’t allow the deity to rest even for a second. It is that hour when they will exploit the deity like anything. This is the time when affluent people can afford to pay the hefty amount; they are allowed to do special pooja…”

Senior Advocate Divan explained to the court the importance of these timings and the pooja performed.

CJI said, “Supposedly, there is fallout of 10-15 thousand on original timing, but what is the fallout of several thousand?"

Dave, “We don’t have to see a situation where there is a stampede and all…first aspect is that this particular element is not just a timing issue or some function which is operating. It is very much tied to the rituals…it is ritual tradition which has been maintained…Dehri Pooja is at a particular location, this location has been shut, performed at the feet of the lord...The Dehri pooja, which is between guru and shishya…is an age-old tradition. ”

CJI said, “The Committee's presence needs to be allowed."

Background

Previously, another Writ Petition was filed by the Management Committee of Thakur Bankey Bihari Ji Temple, challenging the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, which transfers the control and administration of the Temple to a statutory Trust. The Supreme Court had proposed to constitute a Committee headed by a former High Court Judge as an interim measure for the management of the Temple.

The Court had remarked that the Temple funds should be utilised only for the welfare of the pilgrims, and it cannot be pocketed by private persons in the name of the temple, being a private Temple.

Previously, the Supreme Court, in May 2025, had permitted the State of Uttar Pradesh to utilise the temple fund in order to purchase the land around the Temple as per the Scheme proposed, provided that the land so acquired shall be in the name of the Deity/Trust. The Court had emphasised that the persons from Vaishnav Sampradayas must be appointed as the Receivers of Mathura temples.

Cause Title: Management Committee Of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple Vs Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Mandir High Powered Management Committee [W.P.(C) No. 1228/2025]