Independent Banke Bihari Temple guide. Not the official temple website. Official site: bihariji.org (opens in a new tab)

Banke BihariIndependent Vrindavan guide

Temple administration and legal developments

Who manages the temple, and what courts and government have decided since 2022. Each entry gives its authority, source, status and the date we last checked it.

Researched and drafted by the editorial desk with AI assistance. Editor: Sai Kiran. Published 2 October 2026, sources checked 2 October 2026. How we work.

Current administrative status

We report here only what we could confirm, and say so where we could not.

  • Reported Since 8 August 2025, a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee, chaired by Justice Ashok Kumar (retired), has been reported as supervising the temple's functioning pending the High Court's decision on the 2025 ordinance. Source: SCC Online report of the Supreme Court order, 8 August 2025 (opens in a new tab)
  • Reported On 25 August 2026 the Supreme Court directed that donations be deposited through the temple's donation boxes or online, directly into the temple treasury. Source: Bar & Bench report, 25 August 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  • The outcome of the June 2026 Supreme Court hearing on darshan hours, the current status of the ordinance, and the present composition of the committee could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.

What the temple's website says

Historical record The temple's website says its management committee comprises "4 elected trustees from the board of trustees, 3 nominated members and a representative of government (judiciary)", that the trustees are sewa adhikari Goswamis descended from Goswami Jagannath, and that the temple's online activities are run independently of the management committee by a trust promoted by the trustees. Source: Official temple website: trust and management (opens in a new tab)

Darshan hours

Which darshan hours apply?

Official source
The official website publishes a summer timetable for 5 March to 10 November 2026 (7:45 AM to 12:00 noon and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM). Source: Official temple website: darshan timings (opens in a new tab)
Secondary sources
Law reporting says the High-Powered Committee resolved on 11 September 2025 to extend darshan hours, implemented by the District Magistrate on 19 September 2025, and that the change was challenged. Source: LiveLaw report, 3 February 2026 (opens in a new tab); IANS report, 15 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Conflict
Yes. The official timetable does not reflect the reported extension.
Our conclusion
We publish the official timetable and disclose the reported change. We do not publish the extended hours themselves because we have not found an official notice confirming them.
What to do
Check the official website and notices at the temple on the day of your visit. See our timings page.

Timeline

  1. Night of 19 to 20 August 2022
    Authority
    Not applicable (incident)
    Event
    Two devotees died of suffocation and others were injured in the crowd during the Janmashtami mangla aarti.
    Status
    Historical event. Cited by later court proceedings on crowd safety.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  2. 2025
    Authority
    Government of Uttar Pradesh
    Event
    The Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025 was promulgated, providing for a statutory trust to manage the temple. Its validity was challenged.
    Status
    Constitution of the trust kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court on 8 August 2025, pending the High Court's decision. Current status could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  3. 8 August 2025
    Authority
    Supreme Court of India
    Case
    Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1666
    Event
    Appointed a High-Powered Committee chaired by Justice Ashok Kumar, former judge of the Allahabad High Court, to supervise the temple's functioning, including amenities, crowd control, safety and development planning.
    Status
    Reported as continuing to administer the temple pending the High Court's decision. Current composition and powers could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  4. 11 and 19 September 2025
    Authority
    High-Powered Committee; District Magistrate, Mathura
    Event
    The committee resolved on 11 September 2025 to extend darshan hours. The District Magistrate implemented the decision by office memorandum on 19 September 2025.
    Status
    Challenged before the Supreme Court (see below). The official temple website continues to publish the earlier schedule. Hours in force could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  5. December 2025
    Authority
    Supreme Court of India
    Event
    On a challenge by the temple's management committee, which argued that opening and closing hours are part of the temple's religious observances, the court issued notice to the High-Powered Committee and other parties.
    Status
    Pending at the time of the report.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  6. Reported 3 February 2026
    Authority
    Allahabad High Court
    Event
    Dismissed a contempt petition against the Supreme Court-appointed committee over the extended darshan timings.
    Status
    Decided (contempt petition dismissed).
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  7. 16 June 2026
    Authority
    Supreme Court of India
    Event
    A plea by sevayats challenging the committee's decisions on darshan hours and the discontinuation of the "Dehri Puja" practice was listed for hearing.
    Status
    Outcome could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026
  8. 25 August 2026
    Authority
    Supreme Court of India
    Event
    Directed that all donations to the temple be deposited through its donation boxes or online, directly into the temple treasury, and asked the managing committee to introduce a transparent mechanism for receiving donations.
    Status
    Reported direction. Implementation details could not be independently confirmed as of 2 October 2026.
    Last verified
    2 October 2026

What this means for visitors

  • Timings, queue systems and entry arrangements may change at short notice as decisions are taken and challenged.
  • Offer donations only through the temple's own donation boxes or official online channels. See VIP darshan and unofficial offers.
  • Follow the instructions of police, volunteers and temple staff at the site.

We do not predict the outcome of any proceeding. We update this page when we can confirm a development from an order or a reliable report.