New Delhi, May 27 (HS): The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for hijacking the ongoing dispute between two private parties regarding the management of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. The bench headed by Justice BV Nagarathna stated that if the state government continues to intervene in matters between private parties, the rule of law will be undermined.

During a Supreme Court hearing, the bench inquired whether the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government had participated in the ongoing dispute between two private parties regarding the Banke Bihari Temple corridor case. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing petitioner Devendra Nath Goswami, questioned the state's intervention and the legality of using temple earnings for state purposes, especially after the state received ₹300 crore. The UP government argued it formed a trust to manage the temple, clarifying that the funds were with the trust and not the government. The Supreme Court instructed the UP government to present its notification regarding the trust's formation.

On May 15, the Supreme Court modified a previous Allahabad High Court order, allowing the UP government to acquire 5 acres near the temple for the corridor using ₹500 crore from temple funds, emphasizing that the land must be registered in the deity's name. The UP government intends to cover the corridor's development costs, which are projected to exceed ₹500 crore, and sought to utilize temple funds for land acquisition. However, on November 8, 2023, the Allahabad High Court rejected this proposal, asserting that while the corridor construction was permissible, temple funds should not be allocated for such projects. The Supreme Court later permitted the use of temple deposit funds for land acquisition.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar