The Uttar Pradesh Government informed the Allahabad High Court its intention to use contributions from devotees to the deity for the construction of a corridor at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. However, the government has assured that it will not intervene in the temple’s administration, which is overseen by the priest’s family.
The state government made the submissions before a two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Pritinkar Diwakar and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava which was hearing a PIL filed by Anand Sharma and another person of Mathura seeking an inquiry into a stampede in the temple in August last year.
The bench has scheduled the next hearing for October 30, 2023.
During the hearing, the Goswami (priest) family opposed the government’s proposal to utilize devotees’ contributions for the construction of the corridor. In response, the government’s counsel informed the court that it would not interfere with the management of the Banke Bihari temple, which is the responsibility of the priest’s family.
The court has reserved its decision on an impleadment application submitted by the Goswami family.
Last year, during Janmashtami celebrations, a stampede at the Bankey Bihari temple resulted in the tragic deaths of two devotees and injuries to seven others. In October of the same year, the state government informed the high court of its plan to acquire five acres of land adjacent to the Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura to create facilities for pilgrims.
The court sought clarification from the state government regarding its role in managing pilgrims who visit the Vrindavan, Mathura temple. Subsequently, the Goswami family submitted an impleadment application opposing the plan, asserting that the temple is private and does not require government intervention.