2024.07.27 (Vrindavan Today News): The U.P. Government has filed review petition against the conditional order of the high court order in which the court had allowed the government to build the corridor at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. The Uttar Pradesh government has filed a review petition requesting the High Court to reconsider its order that the corridor should not be built using temple funds.
The petition appeals for permission to acquire land and construct the corridor using temple funds, so that once the construction is complete, it can be integrated into the temple. This would allow the temple management to operate it in the future. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for August 5.
The Attorney General, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, filed the review petition in the High Court. It appeals to the Allahabad High Court to review its order from November 20, 2023. The order had directed the construction of the corridor but had prohibited the use of temple funds, stating that the government should bear the expenses.
Ownership Rights if Government Funds the Project
The review petition argues that if the government purchases the land using its own funds, the ownership will belong to the government. Similarly, if the government spends money on the construction of the corridor, the government will hold the rights to it. To ensure that the corridor can be integrated with the temple and managed by the temple committee, it is essential to use temple funds for its construction. There was a hearing in the High Court on this matter last week, and the court will hear the case again on August 5.
Despite the High Court clearing the conditional path for the corridor construction on November 20, 2023, the government has yet to take steps towards acquiring the necessary land, let alone initiating construction.
Following the revelation of the review petition, it has become clear that the government is awaiting the High Court’s decision on the matter.
Earlier, after the High Court’s conditional clearance for the corridor construction, parties from the Goswami community filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the order. This SLP was dismissed by the Supreme Court on April 30, 2024.
Dispute over Temple Trust and Offerings
Ashok Goswami, a representative of the Goswami community, stated that the Attorney General of Uttar Pradesh had proposed in the High Court last week that a trust be established for the Banke Bihari Temple. The government seemingly intends to take over the service, worship, and administration of the temple, similar to the control it has assumed over the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. According to Goswami, the temple offerings belong to Banke Bihari Ji and should be utilized solely for his service.
The Goswami community has previously filed a petition in the High Court, asserting that Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj belongs to their ancestor, Swami Haridas Ji, and that the right to worship and service is an inherent right of the Goswami community, which cannot be challenged.
Challenges for the administration
The proposed corridor project requires the acquisition of 5.65 acres of land. Currently, convincing the people to part with this land under contractual terms is a significant challenge for the administration. Additionally, obtaining approval from the government for the purchase of land costing 300 crores INR and the construction of the corridor estimated at 600 crores INR is a daunting task. The existing Banke Bihari Temple spans approximately three acres and is registered under the Madan Mohan Temple Trust. The administration needs an additional 5.65 acres for the corridor construction, which encompasses around 300 structures.
Proposed Corridor Specifications
Lower Area Specifications:
- Total Lower Area: 11,300 square meters
- Open Area: 518 square meters
- Waiting Area: 3,500 square meters
- Shoe Storage: 250 square meters
- Luggage Storage: 100 square meters
- Childcare Center: 30 square meters
- Medical Services: 90 square meters
- VIP Waiting Area: 80 square meters
- Prayer Material Shops: 800 square meters
Upper Area Specifications:
- Total Upper Area: 5.65 acres
- Total Upper Area: 10,600 square meters
- Waiting Area: 1,800 square meters
- Corridor: 800 square meters
- Parikrama Area: 900 square meters
- Open Area: 650 square meters
- Luggage Storage: 100 square meters
- Childcare Center: 30 square meters
- Medical Services: 80 square meters
- VIP Waiting Area: 250 square meters
