Key Points
- Banke Bihari Trust Bill-2025 cleared by voice vote in UP Assembly during 24-hour special sitting; to remain on hold until court permits.
- Supreme Court has stayed operation of the UP Ordinance creating the Trust and formed a High-Powered Committee led by a former Allahabad HC judge to run day-to-day affairs.
- Allahabad High Court set to hear the matter on August 26; flagged concerns about bureaucrats in the trust and Article 25 issues.
- Government indicates revised framework to align with apex court observations; bill replaces May 26 Ordinance.
- House witnessed repeated opposition protests in earlier sittings; government defended the bill as essential for crowd management, transparency, and facilities.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uttar Pradesh Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust Bill-2025 by voice vote during the third day’s 24-hour special discussion, with Finance Minister Suresh Khanna moving the legislation; proceedings began at 11am Wednesday and run till 11am Thursday.
However, despite passage, the Bill cannot take effect immediately because the Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the earlier Ordinance creating the Trust and directed that such arrangements remain in abeyance until the Allahabad High Court rules on validity; the Court also clarified that legislative ratification may proceed but remains subject to the case outcome.
Court Status: What’s Binding Now
- Supreme Court stay: The apex court stayed the Ordinance’s provisions empowering the State to constitute the Trust, kept the Trust in abeyance, and appointed a 12-member committee led by a former Allahabad HC judge to manage day-to-day affairs and improve amenities.
- HC calendar: The Allahabad High Court listed the matter for August 26, observing that inserting bureaucrats into the proposed trust structure could infringe Article 25; it advised reconsideration of those clauses.
- Corridor funds: The Supreme Court recalled/modifed earlier directions that allowed use of temple funds for corridor land acquisition, sending the matter back under stricter judicial oversight.
What the Bill Seeks to Do
According to official and media notes, the Bill replaces the May 26 Ordinance and proposes a statutory trust to administer temple affairs, regulate offerings and properties, appoint priests, set darshan timings, and plan development with expert inputs; drafts discussed an 11-nominated and up to 7 ex-officio member structure, including representation from Sanatan traditions and Goswami lineages, though the final composition remains subject to judicial scrutiny and possible amendments.
Why the Bill Now? The Dispute Timeline
- 2022 stampede and crowding concerns triggered calls for stronger crowd management and administrative intervention.
- Government moved to form a trust; petitions challenged state overreach, leading to High Court and Supreme Court proceedings, status quo orders, and eventually the stay on the Ordinance and the new interim management committee.
Assembly Dynamics
The monsoon session’s special 24-hour discussion covered “Viksit Bharat–Viksit Uttar Pradesh” themes alongside the Banke Bihari item; opposition parties protested procedural and substantive aspects in earlier sittings, while the government argued for management reforms to ensure safety, transparency, and better pilgrim facilities.
What Happens Next
- Implementation hinges on the Allahabad High Court’s decision on constitutionality; until then, the SC-appointed panel manages day-to-day affairs under court supervision.
- The state may tweak bill provisions especially on composition and bureaucrat roles to address constitutional concerns flagged by the High Court before the August 26 hearing.
Why It Matters for Devotees
The Supreme Court cited years of inadequate amenities despite large donations and factional disputes, and directed an impartial, high-powered committee to ensure orderly management and improve pilgrim services while the legal challenge is decided.
Live/Media Signals
State broadcaster and regional channels streamed the session where the Bill was tabled and passed, underscoring its priority status for the government during the monsoon session.
Note: All legislative steps remain subject to ongoing judicial review; timelines and provisions could evolve as the High Court hears the matter on August 26.
