On August 4, the highest court docket stated it might maintain in abeyance its Might 15 nod to the bold scheme to develop the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Hall at Vrindavan in Mathura for the advantage of devotees as key stakeholders weren't heard.
Showing earlier than a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, Further Solicitor Normal KM Nataraj stated the 2025 ordinance had nothing to do with the pending litigation of possession of the temple administration.
“Let me make clear on the outset that the ordinance has nothing to do with the pending writ petition. There was a PIL filed for higher administration of the temple earlier than the excessive court docket and instructions had been handed,” Nataraj stated.
He stated the ordinance was issued for higher administration of the temple which witnesses about two-three lakh devotees each week.
The bench then advised Nataraj that his arguments is perhaps good, however may very well be made when the problem to the ordinance is relegated to the excessive court docket. Nataraj handed over the proposal of the state authorities to the bench, which upon examination was discovered to be the identical as urged by the court docket on August 4. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for the petitioners, urged the bench to be allowed to offer a proposal and solutions on the problem of administration of temple by August 8.
The petitioners have challenged the validity of Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Belief Ordinance, 2025, for reportedly taking up the administration of the traditional temple and the recall of the highest court docket's Might 15 order.
On Might 15, the highest court docket allowed an impleadment software filed by the state whereas paving the best way for a Uttar Pradesh authorities scheme to develop the hall.
It allowed the state's plea to utilise the funds of the Banke Bihari temple just for the acquisition of a five-acre land across the temple to create a holding space.
The highest court docket, nonetheless, stated the land to be acquired for the needs of improvement of the temple and the hall must be within the title of the deity or the belief.
The bench posted the matter for August 8 whereas permitting the petitioners to offer their solutions on the problem.
On August 4, the bench deprecated the method of the state authorities in transferring the court docket in “clandestine method” and questioned the hurry for enacting an ordinance.
The highest court docket has stated that it might appoint an interim committee headed by a retired excessive court docket or district choose to handle the affairs of the temple within the curiosity of lakhs of devotees apart from together with the principle stakeholders within the managing committee.
It requested Nataraj to hunt instruction and submit a proposal for administration of the temple and clarified that the court docket was at current not adjudicating the constitutionality of the ordinance and the excessive court docket will look into it.
The plea earlier than the bench, filed by advocate Tanvi Dubey, of the administration committee of the Thakur Shree Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple in Mathura, challenges the ordinance, which vested the management of the shrine's administration with the state.
