Hearing is going on in the Supreme Court on the petitions related to the management of Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. This case is being heard by the bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. In these petitions, the ordinance of the Uttar Pradesh government has been challenged, according to which the arrangements related to the temple have been handed over to a trust by the state government.
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.
Sharp questions from the court on the argument of the temple being private
Senior advocate Shyam Diwan, appearing for the petitioners, argued that it was a private temple. Justice Surya Kant said that the income of the temple is not only for you but also for the temple development schemes. Shyam Diwan said that we are challenging the unilateral order on the government’s plan. The court said that the court has decided the issues, which also include the takeover of the trust by the government. Petitioners’ lawyer Shyam Diwan said that the state wants to use the temple money to buy the land.
Where many devotees come, it cannot be private…
The court said that the state does not seem to have the intention of usurping the temple money, they are spending it on the development of the temple. Shyam Diwan said that the government is capturing our money, my temple is a private temple. The court asked the petitioner’s lawyer Shyam Diwan that how can you call a religious place private. Where many devotees come, it cannot be private. Management may be private, but how can a god be private?
Why should temple money go into your pocket? Supreme Court question
Shyam Diwan said that this is a separate issue. In any civil case in which I am not a party, the State goes behind my back and takes orders. They may have some plan. But can the government do what they have done for this scheme? The Supreme Court said why should the temple money go into your pocket? Why can’t they use it for development? Shyam Diwan said that this is a separate issue. But this is a matter of due process of this court. Orders have been obtained from the court without my knowledge.
What did the Supreme Court say to Kapil Sibal?
Justice Surya Kant in the Supreme Court said that retired High Court judges and District Magistrates will also be included in the temple project administration committee. Goswami will also be a representative of the society. We will consider the constitutionality of the ordinance later. Now this will be heard tomorrow at 10.30 am. The court said that religious tourism is the most popular industry today. It is the creator of both infra and employment. The court told petitioner’s lawyer Kapil Sibal to look at Shirdi, Puttaparthi, Tirupati, Amritsar, how they are equipped with modern facilities. The court said that you can rest assured that the mythology and heritage of the place will be protected.
Supreme Court also asked questions to UP government
The Supreme Court is in favor of constituting a committee to mediate on the Banke Bihari Corridor issue between the Temple Trust and the Uttar Pradesh Government. The Supreme Court asked the Uttar Pradesh government why there was such a hurry to bring the ordinance. Justice Surya Kant said that Lord Krishna was the first mediator, efforts should be made to mediate the matter. The wealth of the temple should be used for the pilgrims. A private person cannot put it in his pocket. The Supreme Court said that the High Court should first investigate the constitutionality of the order of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
If the state government wanted to do any development work, then who stopped it from doing so as per the law? The court can give its verdict on the issue of whether the land is private or not. The state government is coming secretly, not giving them a chance to be heard, we do not expect this. The state should have informed them with complete impartiality. The Supreme Court said that we will make a retired High Court judge or a senior retired District Judge as the management trustee. We will give some time to the retired judge’s interim committee to utilize the funds – devotees come and donate, some part of it to be spent