The Supreme Court heard a writ petition challenging the constitutionality of the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, which was promulgated on May 26, 2025. The Ordinance seeks to transfer the control and administration of the historic Bankey Bihari Temple in Mathura from the Sewayat Goswamis, who have managed the temple for over 500 years, to a statutory Trust established under the Ordinance.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi took note of the pendency of a Miscellaneous Application (MA) concerning the same temple before another Bench of the Court. In light of this, the Bench directed that the present writ petition be listed after the MA is heard.
The petitioners have been granted liberty to mention the matter before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate listing.
Appearing for the temple authorities and Sewayat Goswamis, Senior Advocates Mr. Kapil Sibal, Mr. Nikhil Goel, and Mr. Amit Anand Tiwari argued that the Ordinance is manifestly arbitrary and violates the fundamental rights of the traditional custodians of the temple.
The writ petition has been filed through Advocate Tanvi Dubey.