SC asks Uttar Pradesh, panel to make development plan for Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari temple

People pray at the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh. File | Photo credit: PTI

The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the committee managing the Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj temple at Vrindavan in Mathura to come up with a holistic development plan to provide easier access and better facilities to devotees.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the state should “proceed” to develop “secular infrastructure facilities” in and around the temple complex.

The court pointed out that more infrastructure and facilities for visitors would mean acquiring additional land to widen the approach road to the temple.

It would also require regulation of commercial activities in and around the temple, provision of basic facilities for devotees such as a dharamshala, hospital, rest stops, restaurants, public transport in the form of electric vehicles for the elderly and disabled, women and children and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the state.

“The committee and the state must prepare a development plan for the entire area and submit it to us,” the court ordered.

The court urged the temple management committee to ensure proper and traditional religious practices and rituals are followed and make arrangements for crowd control and day-to-day functioning of the religious place. The bench observed that the area in the temple complex must be well maintained and visitors should maintain civic sense and not litter the place of worship.

The court allowed the nomination of two members from each of the two groups of Goswamis — Shayan Bhog and Raj Bhog — and allowed them to submit proposals to the committee.

The court had in August last year set up a committee headed by a former Allahabad High Court judge to manage the temple. It left in operation a state ordinance that took over the administration of the temple.

Published – 26 May 2026 21:20 IST