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The case has once again brought to the fore the tension between tradition, devotion, and the commercialisation of religious practices at major temples.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday strongly criticised the practice of allowing wealthy devotees to perform “special pujas” in temples after paying hefty sums, observing that such practices disrupt the deity’s rest time and amount to exploitation.
Hearing a plea challenging changes in darshan timings and temple practices at the Bankey Bihari Ji Temple in Vrindavan, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed grave concern over the manner in which temples are managed during non-darshan hours.
“What they do is, after closing the temple at 12 noon, they do not allow the deity to rest even for a minute. This is the time when the deity is most exploited. All affluent people who can afford to pay hefty amounts are allowed to do special pujas,” the CJI remarked.
‘Rest Period Is Sacrosanct’
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the temple sevayats, supported the court’s concern, stressing that the deity’s rest period was inviolable. “This is a critical period of rest for the deity. The timings are sacrosanct and should be maintained,” Divan submitted, adding that the court was raising an issue of great religious and constitutional significance. The CJI reiterated that it was during this closed period that such paid rituals were being conducted.
Notice Issued, Hearing in January
The Bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pamcholi, issued notice to the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered temple management committee and the Uttar Pradesh government, and listed the matter for further hearing in the first week of January.
Challenge to Changes in Temple Rituals
Divan argued that changes in darshan timings had led to a fundamental alteration of internal temple rituals, including the timing of when the deity wakes up and retires for the night. “These darshan timings are part of a long-standing tradition. Historically, strict timings have been followed. The recent changes have disrupted essential religious practices,” he said.
The plea also challenged the discontinuation of the age-old ‘Dehri Pooja’, performed exclusively by the Goswamis under the Guru–Shishya parampara. Petitioners contended that suspending the ritual on grounds of crowd management was unjustified, as it is performed when the temple remains closed to the public and in a limited area.
Change in Governance Framework
The dispute arises amid significant changes to the temple’s governance. For decades, the 1939 Scheme of Management governed the administration, rituals and finances of the shrine.
The Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, seeks to replace this with a state-controlled trust, triggering concerns over increased governmental involvement in religious institutions and its impact on established traditions. In August 2025, the Supreme Court declined to examine the constitutional validity of the ordinance, leaving that question to the Allahabad High Court, but stayed its operation in the interim.
Court-Appointed Committee in Charge
Pending adjudication, the apex court constituted a high-powered committee headed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar to oversee the temple’s day-to-day affairs.
The committee has been tasked with ensuring basic amenities for devotees, including clean drinking water, functional washrooms, shelters, crowd-management corridors, and facilities for elderly and vulnerable pilgrims. It has also been authorised to plan the overall development of the temple and surrounding areas, including land acquisition if required. The case has once again brought to the fore the tension between tradition, devotion, and the commercialisation of religious practices at major temples.
