Vrindavan Temple Corridor Project | PIL In Allahabad High Court Against Proposed Demolition Of Temples, 'Kunj Galis'

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea has been moved in the Allahabad High Court against the proposed plan of destruction and demolition of various temples and 'Kunj Galis' for the construction of public toilets, gardens fountains etc., for the Vrindavan Banke Bihari Temple Corridor project.

Submitting that the 'Kunj Galis' (Kunj Lanes) are religious heritage and places of worship for crores of Hindus, the PIL plea, filed by one Pankaj Saraswat through advocates Priyanka Mishra, Arushi Birla and Utkarsh Birla contends that demolition of the kunj galis would be violative of Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

Explaining the cultural and historical significance of the KUnj Galis and how the same is associated with the sentiments of the Hindus of the Country, the PIL Plea submits thus:

"The lanes of Vrindavan are called 'Kunj Galis' and have great religious significance for Hindus. It is believed that Nitya Lilas' (eternal and perpetual Lilas) of Lord Krishna & Radhaji take place uninterrupted in these lanes which are 'Lila Sthali of adolescent Lord Krishna & Radhaji. As per the belief of the devotees of Lord Krishna and Radhaji, there are only two places in the entire universe where 'Nitya Lilas' of Lord Krishna and Radhaji take place uninterruptedly and in perpetuity. These places are 'Kunj Lok' and the groves and lanes of Vrindavan. It is for this reason these lanes are called 'Kunj Galis"

The PIL plea also argues that the State Government is planning to construct a huge corridor for the temple of Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj which poses a grave threat to the entire "swaroop" of Vrindavan including the very existence of the 'Kunj Galis' and various temples in that area.

In the PIL plea it has further been submitted that the State government, without conducting any social impact assessment, without obtaining prior sanction from the Archeological Survey of India and without environmental clearances, intends to demolish temples (which have been in existence for 100s of years), 'Kunj Galis' (which are places of immense religious significance) and construct toilets and VIP waiting rooms, shoe keeping rooms etc at their place.

It adds that the same is a violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant and Hindus in general guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India. It also argues that the proposed demolition of houses, temples and 'Kunj Galis' and construction of the corridor is also barred by the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act as Section 20A of the Act clearly prohibits any construction activity within 100 metres of a protected monument.

"There are two temples of Thakur Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji Maharaj and Thakur Madan Mohan Ji Maharaj which are 'protected monuments' under the Act. The proposed corridor lies within 100 metres of the said protected monuments and hence as per law no construction activity can take place in the said area," the PIL plea submits.

The PIL plea also contends that the proposal to build a corridor for crowd management by demolishing the 'Kunj Galis', various temples, endangering protected monuments and destroying the livelihood of hundreds of families is irrational and unreasonable. 

Against this backdrop, the PIL Plea seeks a direction to the Respondents not to demolish the 'Kunj Galis' (lanes) of Vrindavan and Temples around the temple of Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Temple and to not change the Swaroop of Vrindavan for the construction of the corridor.

It also seeks a direction to the State Respondents to not demolish structures and not to do any construction within 100 metres radius of ASI-protected monuments being temples of Thakur Shri Radhavallabh Lal Ji Maharaj and Thakur Shri Madan Mohan Ji Maharaj.