Retired Judge Justice Sudhir Narayan appointed to head the one -man panel
2022.11.30 (Vrindavan Today News): The Allahabad High court bench comprising of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J J Munir has put a stay on Uttar Pradesh State government’s plan to construct a corridor at the Banke Bihari Temple premises in Vrindavan till further order. The court has appointed a Retired Judge, Sudhir Narayan to conduct a thorough review and submit a detailed report to the high court in this regard on the proposed (till the completion of the project) corridor project. The court has also asked the government to produce the copy of affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary of the Department of Religious Works of the UP Government to Justice Narayan, with regard to non-interference in internal religious functioning of the temple or temple funds. And the court likes to remain well informed about the steps proposed (till the completion of the corridor) for the safety and management of the pilgrims visiting the temple.
It should be noted that the state government had proposed a plan to develop the temple area as five-Acre corridor for facilitating comfortable darshan and puja after unfortunate death of two devotees during Janmashtami celebrations at Banke Bihari temple in August this year. The government has claimed to have identified five acres land adjacent to Banke Bihari Temple to provide facilities to the pilgrims on the lines of Kashi and Ujjain Corridors.
An impleadment application submitted by Goswami (priest) family, also called Sevayats, had objected to the plan, saying that it’s a private temple and no government interference is solicited. The Project has also found widespread opposition from local NGOs. The Goswamis submitted before the high court that the fund lying in the account of deity in the temple should not be utilized for purchase of five acres of land around the temple for the proposed project by the state. The PIL pertaining to framing of a proper scheme for the maintenance and upkeep of the temple and the sevayat was filed earlier. They had expressed their objection about the interference by local administration in the matters of temple.
Meanwhile, The Allahabad High Court bench has asked retired justice Narayan to review the actual ground position of the project the current position of proposed corridor and file his report to the court. Next hearing will be held on December 16.
