UP Government Enacts Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Bill
New Act aims to improve temple administration, ensure transparency, and safeguard religious traditions
LUCKNOW, Dec 22: The Uttar Pradesh government has officially notified the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Bill as an act following the governor’s assent on August 21. The legislation was passed by both the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council and was notified after receiving the governor’s approval.
The bill, introduced during the Monsoon Session, was passed by voice vote after discussions on August 13 and 14. The Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, Pradeep Dubey, will formally inform both Houses about the enactment of the law.
With this legislation, a legal framework has been established to manage the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple, including its movable and immovable properties and offerings by devotees. The Act aims to ensure better administration, enhanced transparency, improved facilities for devotees, and protection of the temple’s religious traditions.
The move comes amid scrutiny by the Supreme Court, which had earlier criticised the practice of allowing affluent individuals to perform ‘special pujas’ in temples after paying money. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant noted that the “current setup” exploited the deity, particularly during afternoon hours when the temple remained open for wealthy devotees while restricting others.
The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the court-constituted High Powered Committee regarding challenges to the revised temple darshan timings and the discontinuation of Dehri Puja at the Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 7, 2026.
