Supreme Court Cites Lord Krishna, Questions UP Government Over Banke Bihari Temple Redevelopment

The Supreme Court on Monday (4 August) invoked Lord Krishna as the "first mediator" while addressing the dispute between the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and the Uttar Pradesh government regarding a proposed Rs 500 crore redevelopment plan, reported NDTV.

The court urged both parties to mediate and proposed forming a committee to manage the temple during the legal proceedings.

"Lord Krishna was the first mediator... please try to mediate the matter," the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi stated. The bench suggested appointing a retired High Court or district judge as the temple's management trustee and proposed to keep part of the 15 May Supreme Court order in abeyance, which had allowed the state to use temple funds.

The court criticised the UP government’s "clandestine manner" of securing approval to use temple funds and questioned the urgency of passing the ordinance. It asked why the government did not follow due legal procedures, such as acquiring land and compensating private owners.

The temple’s former management claimed the ordinance had removed the hereditary Shebait family without a hearing, and that the government had intervened in a private dispute. The court questioned the government’s role, stating, “Was the State a party to the proceedings?”

In a previous hearing, another SC bench had warned, "If states start entering into a private dispute between parties... there will be a total breakdown of law."

The Allahabad High Court is set to examine the constitutional validity of the ordinance, while the UP government must respond to the court’s proposal by 10:30 am Tuesday.

Also Read: Beyond Bulldozers: Can Yogi Build Banke-Bihari Corridor Without Compromising It's Sanctity?