SC Issues Notice to High Power Committee on Order to Extend Darshan Time at Banke Bihari Temple

Mathura: The matter of the management of Mathura's famous Thakur Banke Bihari Temple has once again reached the Supreme Court. Hearing a petition filed against the High Power Management Committee (HPMC), constituted by the Supreme Court for temple management, to extend the darshan time of Thakur Ji by approximately three and a quarter hours per day, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the committee.

What decisions were made by the management?

It is noteworthy that in a meeting held on September 12th, the High Power Management Committee decided to extend the darshan time of Thakur Banke Bihari Ji by approximately three and a quarter hours per day, keeping in mind crowd control and the convenience of devotees. However, the temple's servants did not implement this order. The servants say that Thakur Banke Bihari Ji is served in his child form, which requires that he be given a fixed and adequate time for rest.

What the bench directed?

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of the sevayats, arguing that extending the darshan time would disrupt Thakurji's rest and daily seva routine. Hearing the petition, a bench headed by Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant directed the issuance of a notice to the High Power Management Committee on Monday afternoon.

Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, representing the sevayats, stated that the High Power Management Committee is making several changes to the temple's traditional arrangements. He alleged that, in addition to the extension of temple hours, there has also been interference with the arrangements related to the offerings and prasad. According to the advocate, for the first time in history, the Bal Bhog Prasad was not offered to Thakur Banke Bihari Ji. Furthermore, the committee is alleged to have awarded tenders related to live streaming to its favorites.

Considering these issues as serious, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the committee. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for the first week of January.