New Delhi, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
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 directly into its treasury through online channels, warning that any obstruction by sevayats or others would be viewed seriously.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the direction while hearing the wider dispute over the management and administration of the revered temple, including allegations concerning 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 Bench said.
The court also directed the temple’s managing committee to establish a transparent system for receiving donations and take all necessary measures to prevent malpractice in the collection of offerings.
The directions followed submissions by senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the court-appointed temple management committee. He referred to photographs and a video allegedly showing people collecting offerings directly from devotees in polythene bags near donation boxes instead of allowing devotees to deposit the money themselves.
According to a status report submitted by the high-powered committee, bhandaris were allegedly intercepting offerings and collecting money in packets or polythene bags. It also alleged that flowers, plates or other material had been placed over openings of some donation boxes.
The report further claimed that QR codes intended for online donations had been damaged or covered, preventing devotees from using the digital donation facility.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, raised concerns about the managing committee allegedly using temple funds to purchase properties. He questioned whether such purchases fell within the committee’s authority and also referred to challenges to the legislation governing temple administration, including issues concerning Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
An intervener claiming to represent the deity disputed the allegations concerning collections by bhandaris, saying the money was collected towards “bhog” or food offerings. He also relied on a civil court decree recognising the usufructuary rights of sevayats.
The Bench clarified that it was not questioning the legitimate share of sevayats but said offerings 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,” the court said.
Justice Bagchi added that a priest or sevayat could not claim a right over money belonging to the deity before it was offered to the temple, observing, “A priest cannot have a garnishee right on the deity.”
The court has given the contesting parties one week to file their responses and objections to the status report.
The proceedings form part of the larger dispute concerning administration of the Shri Banke Bihari Temple and development of its surrounding areas.
In August 2025, the Supreme Court constituted a high-powered management committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar to oversee the temple’s day-to-day affairs, including crowd management, pilgrim amenities, safety and development of the temple precincts.
The court had also stayed provisions of the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, which empowered the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a separate trust for temple management, pending adjudication of its validity by the Allahabad High Court.
More recently, the Supreme Court expanded 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 temple administration.
The court has also directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the management committee to prepare a comprehensive development plan covering infrastructure, pilgrim facilities, transport, healthcare, drinking water and amenities for vulnerable devotees.
Supreme Court directs every Banke Bihari Temple donation to go through donation boxes or online directly to the temple treasury.
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