The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that it may direct the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire land required for the development of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan if efforts by the court-appointed High-Powered Committee to privately purchase the land continue to face resistance.
A Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana was hearing an application filed by the Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple concerning the temple’s management and development.
The High-Powered Temple Management Committee was constituted by the Supreme Court in August 2025 to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the temple pending adjudication of issues concerning its management.
At the previous hearing, the Court had directed the State government and the High-Powered Committee to prepare a comprehensive development plan for the temple. The latest status report states that the plan has been prepared after considering projected population and visitor footfall in the region.
According to the report, the Braj region currently receives around six crore visitors annually, while Vrindavan receives approximately 1.75 crore visitors. The annual footfall in Vrindavan is projected to increase to between 2.5 crore and three crores by 2041.
The proposed development plan envisages a three-level complex with facilities such as waiting areas, cloakrooms, shoe-storage and baggage facilities, childcare centres, food courts, public utilities and accessibility facilities. It also proposes a 10-bed hospital, command-and-control centre, police barracks and administrative offices.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the High-Powered Committee, informed the Bench that around 5.5 acres of land was required for the proposed development. Nearly half an acre had already been acquired, while efforts to purchase the remaining land were facing obstacles.
The status report states that the development plan requires 22,850 square metres of land. The identified area comprises approximately 22,722.9 square metres, equivalent to 5.61 acres, spread across 197 plots.
A land purchase sub-committee was constituted on September 11, 2025, to negotiate with property owners. The process of purchasing or acquiring existing buildings and other assets in the identified area was subsequently initiated.
The report states that 28 sale deeds covering 2,696.98 square metres have already been executed in favour of the temple. However, execution of further sale deeds has slowed down following objections raised by members of the Goswami community.
The report further states that some Goswami members expressed displeasure towards persons who had sold their properties to the Committee and had themselves declined to sell properties falling within the proposed development area.
Singh submitted that the Goswami members were objecting to the use of temple funds for development while simultaneously creating hurdles in the acquisition of land.
Advocate N.K. Goswami, however, alleged that the High-Powered Committee was “misleading the Court” by attempting to purchase disputed properties for the temple.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the Goswami-led Management Committee, also opposed the use of temple funds for purchasing properties. He argued that acquisition of private properties using temple funds was beyond the remit of the court-appointed High-Powered Committee.
Divan further submitted that the Committee was constituted only as an interim arrangement and that the principal constitutional challenge concerning the temple’s management remains pending.
The CJI, however, pointed out that the Supreme Court had also entrusted the High-Powered Committee with the mandate to undertake development activities.
The Bench permitted the Committee to continue its negotiations with landowners and said that if a private transaction for the required land materialised, the Committee could inform the Court. If negotiations continued to face obstruction, the Court would consider directing the State government to acquire the land.
Divan also raised concerns regarding the functioning of the High-Powered Committee, alleging that agendas were not circulated before meetings and that members were informed through WhatsApp about meetings. He sought video recording of committee meetings and circulation of draft as well as final minutes.
He also suggested introducing a regulated darshan system through tickets or online booking, referring to arrangements followed during the COVID-19 pandemic and at other major temples to manage crowds.
The status report notes that four Goswami members had earlier proposed extending darshan timings. The High-Powered Committee approved the proposal and issued directions for its implementation. However, according to the report, the revised timings have not yet been implemented by the Goswamis.
The report also records several complaints concerning alleged deviations from traditional practices at the temple. These include concerns regarding the condition of precious gold and silver heritage items, darshan arrangements, alleged misappropriation of a 55-kg silver boat offered to the temple, the Rath Yatra tradition and alleged changes to traditional rituals.
The Supreme Court granted the parties and intervenors one week to file their responses and objections to the status report.
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