SC: Panel led by retd HC judge to manage Banke Bihari temple

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday said it would give legal shape to its view that a committee headed by a retired high court judge should administer Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan until Allahabad HC decided the validity of UP govt's ordinance for development of the temple and its surroundings.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said given the unfortunate incident of a stampede inside the temple in 2022 resulting in deaths of pilgrims, "we are of the view that the temple administration should be managed in the interim by a committee headed by a retired HC judge who should be assisted by top officials of Mathura district."

Appearing for the Goswamis (pujaris), who claim it was a private temple and that govt had no authority to take over its administration, senior advocate Kapil Sibal suggested to the court that it would be better if a retired SC judge was made chairperson of the temple management committee. The bench said, "A retired HC judge would be good enough to manage the temple administration."

Apart from administration, SC said it was mulling empowering the retired judge-led committee to "look into purchase of land around the temple". The bench said it would also authorise the retired HC judge to induct some 'Goswamis' into the committee for the purpose of smooth conduct of temple rituals.

Additional solicitor general K M Nataraj, appearing for UP govt, br-ought to the court's notice that a single judge bench of the HC was also hearing a challenge to the ordinance and that it had made certain unwarranted observations and passed orders.

The Justice Kant-led bench said, "Is the single judge not aware of the proceedings before SC?" The bench stayed the order and further proceedings before the single judge.
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