“The rule of law will collapse if the State begins to intervene in private disputes.”
— Supreme Court of India
2025.05.18 (Vrindavan Today News): In a significant development concerning the governance of one of India’s most revered temples, the Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for its unwarranted interference in the management dispute of the historic Shri Banke Bihari Temple located in Vrindavan. The apex court’s bench, comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, sternly warned that the rule of law stands at risk if state authorities intrude upon private legal matters between citizens.
State Cannot ‘Hijack’ Legal Proceedings, Says Apex Court
The court questioned the very legitimacy of the state’s involvement, asking, “In what capacity has the State become a party to this dispute?” and added, “You cannot hijack a legal proceeding.” The bench observed that the Uttar Pradesh government, which was not a litigant in the case, had filed a prosecutorial application in a matter involving two private parties — a move the court found legally untenable and institutionally hazardous.
The case pertains to a petition challenging the Court’s prior approval of a state-proposed redevelopment plan for the temple complex. The apex court was hearing a review petition against this approval when it delivered the sharp critique.
Background: A Tragedy and a Controversial Proposal
The roots of the controversy trace back to 2022, when a tragic stampede occurred during the Mangala Aarti (early morning worship) on the festival of Janmashtami, leading to the deaths of two devotees. The state government responded by forming a committee, led by IAS officer Gaurav Dayal and former DGP Sulkhan Singh, to investigate safety measures and suggest reforms to avoid future incidents.
The committee’s recommendations included the construction of a corridor around the temple to better manage the large influx of devotees. The proposal, however, quickly met with resistance from the temple’s traditional custodians, the Goswamis of Vrindavan. Concerned that the corridor would alter the sanctified landscape and spiritual atmosphere of the temple, the Goswamis took their objections to the Allahabad High Court.
In its verdict on November 20, 2023, the High Court allowed the corridor project to proceed — but with a crucial stipulation: the Uttar Pradesh government was to fund the construction entirely from state coffers, without utilizing temple donations.
Supreme Court’s Initial Nod and the Public Outcry
The situation intensified when, on May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court overruled the High Court’s stipulation and authorized the government to spend approximately ₹350 crore (about USD 42 million) from the temple’s funds for the redevelopment. This unprecedented directive sparked nationwide debates about the autonomy of religious institutions and the government’s fiduciary boundaries.
Devendra Nath Goswami, a senior member of the temple’s traditional custodians and a direct descendant of Swami Haridas Goswami — the temple’s 16th-century founder — filed a review petition in response. Represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Goswami contended that the government had been allocated funds without any formal consent from the legitimate stakeholders of the temple. Sibal argued, “How can funds from a private temple be directed to the government without even making us a party to the proceedings?”
State’s Defense and the Court’s Reconsideration
In defense, the state’s legal counsel claimed that the funds were to be managed by a newly formed trust, not directly by the government, and that the trust would oversee the purchase of five acres of land and the establishment of a “holding area” to manage devotees during peak times.
While the bench acknowledged this explanation, it still expressed disapproval of the state’s premature and unilateral creation of a trust without judicial sanction or stakeholder involvement. The court directed the government to provide a copy of the ordinance establishing the trust to the petitioners and demanded a sworn affidavit from the relevant Principal Secretary by July 29, 2025.
Review Petition Changes the Course
In a dramatic twist on May 27, 2025, the Supreme Court accepted the review petition and reversed its earlier decision, significantly altering the trajectory of the temple’s redevelopment. The bench accepted the argument that executing the project without consulting the temple’s historical caretakers would be administratively unviable and potentially destabilizing. It acknowledged the claim that the project, as conceived, might undermine the temple’s sacred ecosystem — both spiritually and culturally.
Custodians Assert Spiritual and Historical Stewardship
The petition highlighted that the Goswami family has overseen the temple’s affairs for over 500 years, preserving its spiritual and cultural integrity. Any project that excludes their involvement risks not only operational chaos but also the erosion of a deeply rooted heritage. The petition further stressed that the proposed redevelopment threatens to dilute the temple’s religious character, which carries immense historical, architectural, and theological significance.
A Precedent for Religious Autonomy and Judicial Vigilance
The Supreme Court’s rebuke serves as a strong message to state governments across India: constitutional propriety must be maintained, especially when dealing with religious institutions. The intervention of the judiciary has reasserted the importance of stakeholder inclusion, historical continuity, and legal propriety in projects involving sacred spaces.
In a nation where temples are not merely places of worship but vibrant centers of tradition, history, and identity, the ruling marks a reaffirmation of religious autonomy and the primacy of lawful process. For the devotees of Banke Bihari — and for observers of India’s complex interplay between faith and state — this case will likely stand as a landmark in safeguarding spiritual heritage against unilateral state control.
