SC questions UP govt on Bankey Bihari temple ordinance

The court proposed having an interim administrative committee headed by a former high court judge to manage the day-to-day affairs of the temple and propose steps for its holistic development aimed at promoting religious tourism and granted a day’s time for the state and the temple management to respond with suggestions.

On May 26, the UP government brought an ordinance titled “Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025” which allowed administrative takeover of the temple by a state-run trust that was given power to manage even the temple funds. The ordinance came after a May 15 judgment of the top court allowing the UP government to utilise temple funds to acquire 5 acres of land for a corridor development project around the premises.

The ordinance has since been challenged before the Allahabad high court. The top court on Monday heard a petition filed by the Management Committee Of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple challenging the ordinance and the May 15 judgment that was passed without hearing the Shebaits or the Bankey Bihari temple committee.