Lucknow, 21 Nov: The Allahabad High Court, citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, extended nod to the Uttar Pradesh Government’s request for the Vrindavan (Mathura) Banke Bihari Temple Corridor.
The court has ordered that all encroachments surrounding the shrine be removed. It has, however, restricted the usage of ?262.5 crore from the deity’s bank account for corridor development.
According to a court comprising Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava, the Deity’s monies in the bank are not available for corridor development. The government’s use of its own monies for secular purposes was stressed by the court.
This ruling was made in response to a PIL about crowd control and pilgrim safety at the Banke Bihari Temple. The court took note of temple administration concerns and acknowledged the challenges caused by Sevayat conflicts.
The court stressed the importance of competent temple administration to the public, citing religious, social, historical, and cultural relevance. It instructed the State to carry out the planned Temple project. Citing Articles 25 and 26, the court stated that the government must follow the law in order to offer better facilities for devotees.
It further stressed the significance of public safety, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Gulam Abbas vs. State of Uttar Pradesh. “Human life cannot be jeopardised just because someone objects. at our judgment, even at private temples where devotees come for Darshan, the protection of human life must be prioritised, and the government is obligated to make essential precautions,” concluded the bench.
The court ordered the state to enlist the help of technical experts if necessary and established severe restrictions on road encroachment. It further urged the government to guarantee that devotees’ Darshan is not impeded in any way, save during the Scheme’s implementation, for which adequate alternative arrangements must be provided.
The court reserved decisions on the parties’ rights for a later date. The suggested development project seeks to acquire five acres for temple facilitation while respecting Goswamis’ rights.
The PIL addressed public order management in the vicinity of the Banke Bihari Temple, emphasising Goswami conflicts and safety issues owing to a lack of temple supervision. A merchant and citizen intervention application also challenged the extension near the ‘Kunj Galis.’
