A Bench comprising Hon’ble Justice Surya Kant and Hon’ble Justice Joymala Bagchi heard a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. The petitioners have sought that the ordinance pertaining to the administration of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan be declared unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary.
The Court also heard connected petitions seeking recall of its earlier order dated 15.05.2025, passed by a different Bench (Justice Bela Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma), which had directed the use of temple funds for acquisition of five acres of land. Notably, the Bench pointed out that this direction was issued in a matter concerning a different temple, and Banke Bihari temple was not represented in those proceedings.
The petitioners were represented by Senior Advocates Mr. Shyam Divan, Mr. Kapil Sibal, Mr. Gopal Sankaranarayanan, and Mr. Nikhil Goel. The petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record Ms. Tanvi Dubey.
During the hearing, the Bench orally suggested the possible appointment of a retired High Court judge as an interim administrator for the temple’s management and raised concerns over the procedural fairness of the earlier directions regarding temple funds.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 2, 2025, for consideration of suggestions related to interim arrangements.