New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed strong reservations over the practice of permitting “special pujas” at temples in exchange for money, observing that such practices disrupt the deity’s prescribed resting time and grant unfair privilege to the wealthy.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi was hearing a plea challenging recent changes in darshan timings and temple rituals at the revered Bankey Bihari Ji Temple in Vrindavan.
During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant made significant oral remarks concerning what he described as the exploitation of the deity, particularly during designated rest hours. He observed, “What they do is, after closing the temple at 12 noon, they do not allow the deity to rest even for a second and they exploit the deity like anything.” He further noted that “so-called affluent people, those who can afford to pay hefty amounts, are allowed to perform special pujas.”
Justice Surya Kant stated that this practice of inviting those who can pay to perform special pujas was precisely the concern troubling the Court, as it occurs during the period when the deity is meant to be resting. The bench stressed that granting special or privileged darshan during this time undermines the sanctity of religious traditions and creates inequality among devotees.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing along with Advocate Tanvi Dubey for the temple sevayats (petitioners), assailed the recent alteration of darshan timings and the discontinuation of essential religious practices, including the age-old Dehri Pooja. Divan emphasised that the timings during which the temple is open to the public are rooted in long-standing tradition and ritual, and that recent changes have disturbed the internal ritual schedule, including the deity’s prescribed waking and resting times.
Responding to the Court’s concerns regarding paid special pujas, Divan affirmed that the resting period of the deity is sacrosanct and must be strictly protected. While noting that no specific complaint concerning special pujas had been raised in the present proceedings relating to the Bankey Bihari Temple, he agreed that the Court’s apprehensions were valid and warranted consideration.
The legal challenge arises amid major changes to the temple’s governance. The Supreme Court is overseeing the management of the shrine after having stayed the operation of the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, in August 2025. The Ordinance, which sought to replace the 1939 Scheme of Management with a state-controlled trust, is presently under constitutional scrutiny before the Allahabad High Court.
Until the High Court delivers its verdict, the temple’s day-to-day affairs are being managed by a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee, headed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar.
Following the submissions, the bench directed that notice be issued to all concerned parties, including the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered temple management committee and the Uttar Pradesh government. The matter has been listed for further consideration in the first week of January.
