National News

Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple committee

August 15 , 2025 15 hrs 0 min 69 0

The Supreme Court has suspended the management committee of Thakur Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple in Uttar Pradesh.
A High-Powered Committee led by Retired Justice Ashok Kumar of Allahabad High Court was formed to manage the temple’s daily affairs.
The temple was built in 1864 on land gifted by Raja Ratan Singh and is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site.
Longstanding disputes between two sects known as Raj Bhog and Shayan Bhog have affected temple management since 1938.
A 2016 Allahabad High Court order gave final administrative approvals to the Munsif of Mathura amid ongoing disputes.
A 2022 stampede caused high injuries and deaths leading to a Public Interest Litigation and the State’s proposal for an independent trust.
The Supreme Court stayed the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, pending High Court review.
The Court clarified it made no decision on the constitutionality of the ordinance and left all challenges to the High Court.