Independent Morning Bureau.
Like the offering controversy in Ayodhya's Ram temple, on the allegations of irregularities in the offerings at Vrindavan's Banke Bihari temple, the Supreme Court has said that it will not allow any irregularities in the offerings. The court clearly said that every rupee donated by the devotees should go directly to the temple treasury and no sevayat or any other person will be allowed to take the donation amount directly.
The Supreme Court directed the Temple Management Committee to implement a completely transparent system for offerings and ensure that all donations are deposited either through the authorized donation boxes of the temple or directly into the temple account through online mode. The Supreme Court made this comment on Tuesday while hearing a petition filed regarding the management of offerings and alleged financial irregularities in the famous Shri Banke Bihari Temple located in Vrindavan.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan said during the hearing, 'There should be no doubt that every penny given by the devotees should be deposited directly in the temple treasury only through the donation box of the temple or through online means. If any servant or other person obstructs this, the court will look at it seriously. According to the Bar and Bench report, the court said that the temple management committee should make such a system that the entire process of donation is transparent and the possibility of any kind of irregularities or misuse is eliminated.
During the hearing, one side said that some stewards and servants of the temple take cash directly from the devotees and this is part of their traditional right. On this, the Supreme Court made it clear that no organization has the right to take the donation given in the name of God first.
The Supreme Court said that first the entire offering will go to the temple treasury. After this, if any service provider wants to get any share as per the rules, then it will get it as per the prescribed procedure. Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, 'No priest or servant can claim prior rights over the property of God.'
During the hearing, senior advocate Shyam Diwan, appearing for the petitioners, alleged that the temple management committee was using the temple funds for purposes like purchasing properties. He told the court that it should be clear whether the committee has the right to purchase property with temple money or not.
He also said that laws related to temple management and constitutional questions related to religious freedom are currently under consideration in the Supreme Court. On this, the Chief Justice asked that if a hospital, facilities or other public arrangements have to be built for the development of the temple, then where will the money for it come from.
During the hearing, the earlier stampede in the temple was also mentioned. The petitioners suggested that online booking or ticket-based darshan system could be implemented to control the crowd of devotees, as was done during COVID-19. He said that this will improve the security of the devotees and chaos will be avoided. The court asked the concerned party to file a reply on this suggestion.
The controversy over the management of Banke Bihari Temple had escalated last year when the Uttar Pradesh government had decided to bring the administration of the temple under the new legal regime by enacting the Uttar Pradesh Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025.
Now the Supreme Court has made it clear that every donation given by the devotees will first be deposited in the authorized treasury of the temple. The court believes that this will bring transparency in the use of offerings, prevent financial irregularities and make the temple administration more accountable.