Prayagraj, Amrit Views: Another petition has been filed challenging the constitutional validity of the “Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025” brought by the Uttar Pradesh government to manage the historic Shri Banke Bihari Temple at Vrindavan in Allahabad High Court. The petition has been filed by the presiding deity Shri Banke Bihari by Sheebet Gyanendra Goswami and Rasik Raj Goswami and members of the Sakhi sect of the Haridasi sect.
The petitioners say that the ordinance intervenes in the traditional service-worship system and hereditary management system of the temple and violates Articles 14, 19 (1) (G), 25, 26 and 300A of the Constitution. The petition argued that the temple is a private religious institution, which was founded by Swami Jagannath in the 16th century. The intention of handing over the property of the temple to the state agents in the name of the trust is against the constitutional spirit of secularism. There is no need for the intervention of the government in the administration and management of the temple, but the present Shebet/ Goswami descendants will handle the management and administration according to their turn.
The case was heard on Thursday before the bench of Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice Manjeev Shukla. During the hearing on the petition, the Additional Chief Standing Advocate told the court that a petition is pending in the Supreme Court on the same issue, on which the hearing is proposed on Friday. In the current case, the petitioners have demanded declaration of the ordinance unconstitutional and the government prevents the intervention in the administration of the temple. The next hearing of the current petition has been ensured on 20 August.
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