Every penny must reach temple : SC cracks down on Banke Bihari donations
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that every donation made at Vrindavan's Shri Banke Bihari Temple must go into the temple's donation boxes or be transferred online directly to its treasury, after allegations that offerings were being collected and diverted before reaching temple authorities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said any attempt by priests or others to obstruct the collection of donations through the authorised channels would be viewed seriously.
"Every penny of donation must come to the donation boxes or online temple treasury," the bench said, directing the temple management committee to put in place a transparent mechanism for handling the funds.
What triggered the court's direction?
The court was hearing pleas concerning the management of the temple and was presented with a status report by a high-powered committee overseeing its functioning.
Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the committee, said the report raised serious concerns about the handling of devotees' offerings. He also placed photographs before the court.
Singh alleged that sevayats, or temple priests, and their bhandaris were collecting money directly from devotees instead of directing them to the temple's donation boxes.
He referred to a video in which three people could allegedly be seen standing near a golak, or traditional donation box, collecting money from devotees and putting it into polythene bags.
The committee's report also alleged that QR codes meant for online donations had been destroyed or completely covered, preventing devotees from accessing them.
Justice Bagchi orally observed that a priest cannot have a "garnishing right" over devotees' donations.
The court directed that any impediment created by sevayats or anyone else to the authorised collection of donations would be viewed seriously.
Sevayats raise concerns over temple funds
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the sevayats, raised a separate concern over the alleged use of temple funds by the management committee to purchase properties.
The Supreme Court gave the parties one week to file their responses and objections to the committee's status report.
Why is the temple's management before the SC?
The case is part of a wider dispute over the administration of the Banke Bihari Temple.
The Supreme Court is also dealing with a challenge to the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. The ordinance sought to replace the existing management structure with a state-controlled trust.
The court had earlier stayed parts of the ordinance and constituted a 12-member high-powered committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Ashok Kumar to oversee the temple's day-to-day administration.
The court had also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare a comprehensive development plan for the temple area, including wider roads and facilities for senior citizens, women, children and ailing devotees.
On April 13, the Supreme Court clarified that the committee was not inclined to make "any structural changes" to the existing religious practices at the temple.
(Inputs from PTI)
