BREAKING | Supreme Court Clears ₹500 Crore Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor Plan, Permits Land Purchase Using Temple Deposits

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court today (May 15) permitted the Uttar Pradesh Government to use funds from the Shri Banke Bihari Temple (Vrindavan) for acquiring 5 acres of land around the temple for corridor development, on the condition that the acquired land shall be registered in the name of the deity.

Modifying the order of the Allahabad High Court, which had prohibited the purchase of land around the temple using its funds, the bench comprising Justices Bela M. Trivedi and S.C. Sharma allowed the use of Banke Bihari Ji Temple's fixed deposits after examining the state government's Rs. 500 crore development plan for the corridor.

“The State of Uttar Pradesh has undertaken to incur costs of more than Rs.500 Crores to develop the corridor. However, they propose to utilise the Temple funds for purchasing the land in question; which was denied by the High Court vide order dated 08.11.2023. We permit the State of Uttar Pradesh to implement the Scheme in its entirety. The Banke Bihari Ji Trust is having fixed deposits in the name of the Deity/Temple. In the considered opinion of this Court, the State Government is permitted to utilize the amount lying in the fixed deposit to acquire the land proposed. However, the land acquired for the purposes of development of the temple and corridor shall be in the name of the Deity/Trust.”, the court said.

The Court's approval to the state government's development plan for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor came particularly in light of tragic incidents such as the 2022 stampede at the Banke Bihari Temple prompting it to take note of widespread maladministration in temples in the Braj region and emphasizing that effective temple governance is not only a legal requirement but also a matter of public and spiritual welfare.

Citing the Uttar Pradesh Braj Planning and Development Board Act, 2015, the judgment authored by Justice Sharma acknowledged the State's role in ensuring that basic infrastructure, safety, and heritage conservation are prioritized by developing parking lots, accommodation for the devotees, toilets, security check posts and other amenities.

Urgent Infrastructure Overhaul To Ensure Comfortable Pilgrimage in Mathura and Vrindavan

Also, the Court noted that Mathura and Vrindavan, steeped in religious and historical significance, attract millions of pilgrims each year, therefore to accommodate this influx, there is an urgent need for improved infrastructure such as wider roads, parking, dharamshalas, hospitals, and public amenities.

The Court said that although the Uttar Pradesh Braj Planning and Development Board is actively working on the region's development, but meaningful progress requires collective effort from the government, temple trusts, local communities, and other stakeholders. Key religious sites like the Yamuna river, Kashi Ghat, Vishram Ghat, and Kusum Sarovar also need focused attention and beautification to ensure a spiritually fulfilling and comfortable experience for devotees.

“Mathura and Vrindavan, being historical cities, have found their descriptions in most of the religious scriptures and are visited by millions of people every year. There is a great rush of pilgrims to visit the historical temples and to seek blessings of Lord Krishna and other deities. Mathura and Vrindavan both, keeping in view of the influx of devotees, need wider roads, parking spaces, Dharamshalas, hospitals and other public amenities. The Trust formed by the State of Uttar Pradesh/Respondent No. 4 is already doing a great job for the development of Mathura and Vrindavan corridor, and the Act enacted by the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, i.e. The Uttar Pradesh Braj Planning and Development Board Act, 2015, provides for development of both the cities keeping in view their historic importance. The development of Mathura and Vrindavan cannot be done by parties individually, let it be the various trusts, which are managing the temples, or even by the Government. It has to be a collective effort by the Government, Trusts, people of Mathura and Vrindavan and other agencies in order to achieve a peaceful and spiritual journey for all pilgrims visiting these holy sites. The Yamuna river which is considered a Goddess in Hinduism and revered as sister of Yama, the God of death, also requires attention as Yamuna Ji is believed to be purifying and a dip in its water is said to cleanse one's sins. The Kashi Ghat and Vishram Ghat requires to be expanded and renovated. Similarly, the lake of flowers i.e. Kusum Sarovar which is located near Govardhan Parbat also requires beautification. In short, there is a great work which has to be done to ensure that the pilgrims going to Mathura and Vrindavan are able to seek blessings of Lord Krishna and other Gods and Goddesses without any discomfort.”, the court observed.

Case Title: ISHWAR CHANDA SHARMA VERSUS DEVENDRA KUMAR SHARMA & ORS.

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 576

Click here to read/download the judgment