New Delhi, August 10, 2025 – The Supreme Court has stepped in to address the ongoing management issues at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura, by forming a high-powered committee to oversee its daily operations. The decision, announced on Friday, comes amid a legal battle over the Uttar Pradesh government’s 2025 ordinance, which aimed to place the temple’s administration under state control. The court has put the ordinance on hold and tasked a 12-member panel, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar, with managing the temple until the Allahabad High Court rules on the ordinance’s validity.
The Supreme Court, led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, expressed concern over the temple’s mismanagement, pointing to a 2022 stampede that killed pilgrims and the lack of basic amenities despite donations worth hundreds of crores. “Pilgrims are suffering due to poor facilities,” the court said, noting that internal disputes among the Goswami families, who traditionally manage the temple, have worsened the situation. The new committee includes retired district judge Mukesh Mishra, Mathura’s District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioner, a representative from the Archaeological Survey of India, and two members from each Goswami group, among others.
The panel is responsible for day to day activities like ensuring clean drinking water, functional washrooms, crowd control, and special arrangements for the elderly, women, and children during festivals. Justice Ashok Kumar will receive Rs 2 lakh monthly from temple funds, while Mukesh Mishra will get Rs 1 lakh. The court also directed the state to provide office space in Mathura for the committee. Importantly, the panel will explore land acquisition for temple development, but only through legal means if private negotiations fail.
The Supreme Court’s move follows its decision to halt the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, which gave the state power to form a trust for the temple. The court criticized the state for rushing the ordinance and referred challenges to its legality to the Allahabad High Court, asking for a decision within a year. The court also reversed its earlier May 15, 2025, order allowing the use of temple funds for a corridor project, citing procedural issues as the Goswamis were not heard.
The temple, a key pilgrimage site with thousands of daily visitors, has been at the center of controversy due to administrative chaos and safety concerns. The Supreme Court emphasized that its committee will ensure smooth operations while preserving religious traditions.
