Vrindavan Banke Bihari Temple Revamp Plan: ‘Don’t Touch Temple’s Money, Leave Worship Rituals To Sevayats’: Allahabad HC To State

A bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava today inquired from the state and the Goswamis Sevayats if any census had been reached between them regarding the proposed plan to redevelop the temple area.

It may be noted that the Sevayat Goswami Priests, who have overseen the Mandir for centuries, have been objecting to various aspects of the proposed corridor, including the removal of the “kunj galiyan” (narrow lanes). The Sevayats have also objected to the involvement of local administration in the Temple affairs.

It may further be noted that the Goswamis of the Saraswat Brahmin community have the right to serve in Thakur Banke Bihari temple. They perform puja-archana and shringar in the temple and are called Sevayats. It is their specific plea that since the Banke Bihari Temple is a private temple, no external interference should be allowed.

#AllahabadHighCourt will begin hearing a bunch of PILs filed by Lord Krishna devotees seeking directions for the management of public order in and around the Banke Bihari Ji Mandir, Vrindavan.

A bench of CJ Pritinker Diwekar and J Ashutosh Srivastava to hear the matter. pic.twitter.com/zHYntcwNHi

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) September 26, 2023

During the course of the hearing today, the Counsels for the Goswamis averred before the Court fear takeover of the management of the temple by the state and that the Court should not issue directions pertaining to the affairs taking place inside the temple.

It was further contended that the state had no job reviewing the people who could enter the temple or worship there. It was strongly argued that since the Goswami had the right the serve the temple, any intrusion to their rights at the hands of the state could not be allowed.

Responding to that, the counsels for the State as well as the Advocate General informed the bench that the state was creating a corridor and managing the security affairs of the temple.

It was also submitted by the Chief Standing Counsel that the state was managing everything outside the temple and a consensus had to be reached for the affairs inside the temple.

Further, the AG further sought some time to file an affidavit in the matter.

Against the backdrop of these submissions, Chief Justice Diwekar asked the state to not touch temple management’s money and to not interfere with worship rituals being under the control of the Sevayats.

Chief Justice also orally remarked that if the state was willing to utilize its (temple’s) fund, then it had to do it through A proper course.

Background

The HC is presently dealing with a bunch of PILs filed by devotees of Lord Krishna in the Allahabad High Court seeking directions for the management of public order in and around the Shree Thakur Banke Bihari Ji Mandir, Vrindavan.

In one of the petitions, it has been submitted that Swami Hari Das Ji, who established the temple, did not create any trust or endowment in favour of anyone. Goswami Onkar Nath and Goswami Phundi Lal proclaimed themselves to be the legal heirs and were entitled to do the Pramukh Seva of Thakur Ji.

Petitioner has contended that the judgment given in 1939 in a suit filed by Goswami Onkar Nath does not hold good in the present times. Other than the fact that the judgment records the fact that there is no trust or endowment in favour of anyone.

Further, various disputes between Goswami and their heirs and various criminal cases against the Goswami have also been brought on record.

The petitioner has specifically pointed out the lack of management inside the temple which makes it difficult for the devotees to offer their prayers. Petitioner brought forward specific instances where devotees had died due to the unmanaged crowd. It has been argued that the inaction by the State and its authorities is violative of Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

Accordingly, it has been prayed that the Court may issue directions of the State for framing the proper scheme of maintenance of the temple and for facilitating proper darshan of Thakur Ji to protect the rights of the citizens under the Constitution of India.

An intervention application has been filed by about 250 shopkeepers and residents of the area against the proposed expansion plan by the State. It is their case that ‘Kunj Galis’ are sacred galis where Lord Krishna and Radha Rani still carry on their ‘leelas’. According to the intervenors, there are two temples which are protected by the Archeological Survey of India, in the vicinity of the main temple. Thus, it has been pleaded that no expansion construction can be done within 400 mts of such temples.

On the last date of the hearing, the State came up with a consolidated action plan for the development of the corridor around the Vrindavan temple. However, the plan required the temple to give Rs. 200 crore out of Rs. 700 crore needed to build the corridor. To this, strong objections were raised by the Counsel representing the Deity. Further, counsel for the intervenor raised objections to the entire expansion plan as it would result in the destruction of the sacred ‘Kunj Galis’ which are of religious importance.