New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that every donation made at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura’s Vrindavan must be deposited through the temple’s donation boxes or online directly into the temple treasury, warning that any obstruction by sevayats or others would be viewed seriously.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the direction while hearing the broader dispute concerning the management and administration of the revered temple, including allegations regarding the handling of devotees’ offerings.
“We direct that every penny of donation must come through the donation boxes or online into the temple treasury. Any impediment created by sevayats or anyone else shall be viewed very seriously,” the CJI-led Bench said.
The apex court also directed the temple’s managing committee to introduce a transparent mechanism for receiving donations and take all necessary steps to prevent any malpractice in the collection of offerings.
The direction came after senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the court-appointed temple management committee, referred to photographs and a video allegedly showing persons standing near donation boxes and collecting offerings directly from devotees in polythene bags instead of allowing them to put the money into the boxes.
The high-powered committee’s status report claimed that bhandaris were intercepting donations offered by devotees and collecting money in packets or polythene bags. It further alleged that the openings of some donation boxes were being covered with flowers, plates or other material.
The report also claimed that QR codes meant for online donations had been destroyed or covered, thereby preventing devotees from accessing the digital donation facility.
During the hearing, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, also raised concerns over the alleged expenditure of temple funds by the managing committee for purchasing properties. He questioned whether purchasing properties fell within the powers of the court-appointed committee and also referred to the challenge to the legislation governing the temple’s management, including issues concerning Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
An intervener claiming to represent the deity disputed the allegations concerning the money collected by bhandaris, submitting that the cash was collected towards “bhog” (food offerings) and that the practice was protected by a civil court decree recognising the usufructuary rights of sevayats.
However, the CJI-led Bench clarified that it was not disputing the right of sevayats to receive their legitimate share but said the offering must first be made to the deity.
“First, the donation must be into the dedication, that is, to the deity. And from that you will get your share as part of the bhandari duties. You cannot appropriate the money before the devotee goes to the temple and gives the money into the deity’s funds,” it said.
The apex court added that a priest or sevayat could not claim a right over money belonging to the deity before it was offered to the temple.
“A priest cannot have a garnishee right on the deity,” Justice Bagchi said.
The apex court has granted the contesting parties one week to file their responses and objections to the status report. The proceedings are part of the larger dispute over the administration of the Shri Banke Bihari Temple and the development of its surrounding areas in Vrindavan.
In August 2025, the Supreme Court had constituted a high-powered management committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar to supervise the day-to-day affairs of the temple, including crowd management, pilgrim amenities, safety measures, and development of the temple precincts.
The apex court had also stayed provisions of the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, which empowered the Uttar Pradesh government to create a separate trust for managing the temple, pending adjudication of its validity before the Allahabad High Court.
More recently, the Supreme Court expanded the composition of the high-powered committee by inducting four elected representatives from the Raj Bhog and Shayan Bhog Goswami groups to ensure representation of traditional religious practices in the temple’s administration. It had also directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the management committee to prepare a comprehensive plan for the development of the temple and surrounding areas, covering infrastructure, pilgrim amenities, transport, healthcare, drinking water, and facilities for vulnerable devotees.
(IANS)
