Drafting the end to the Monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, four significant bills, including the highly debated Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025 — were passed on Thursday before Speaker Satish Mahana adjourned the House sine die. The move, met with sharp protests from the Opposition, is poised to reshape the management of one of India’s most revered temples in Mathura’s Vrindavan.
Big News for Banke Bihari Devotees
The Shri Banke Bihari Temple, a centuries-old Vaishnav pilgrimage site attracting lakhs of devotees annually, is now set to come under the supervision of an 18-member Board of Trustees. Eleven members, including top administrative officers, will be selected, and seven will act as ex-officio representatives, according to the Bill.
This is in response to directives from the Supreme Court. According to Central Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, all ongoing operations would comply with court orders. The Trust will include spiritual leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, and social workers from various Sanatan Dharma traditions, as well as representatives from the Sevayat Goswami lineage of Swami Shri Haridas Ji.
Awaited Decision
The state government has cited devotee safety and better management as primary motivations. On August 20, 2022, a tragic stampede-like situation claimed the lives of two devotees due to overcrowding in the temple’s narrow approach lanes. Three main goals are put forward in the Bill’s preamble are crowd control, infrastructure development, and cultural preservation.
Spread over 870 square meters, with 365 square meters as its scenic courtyard, the temple faces heavy footfall that strains both infrastructure and safety measures. The proposed Trust is expected to facilitate pilgrimage comfort, cultural activities, and long-term spiritual development of the site.
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Political Showdown in the Assembly
The session saw Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey questioning the timing of the Bill, given that the matter is still in court. He warned, “You have the majority, you may get it passed, but this is not right.”
The tension rose as SP members staged a walkout, accusing the ruling party of bypassing due debate. Khanna, unfazed, moved ahead with passing not only the Temple Trust Bill but also the Uttar Pradesh State Legislature Member and Minister Comfort Law Bill (2025), the UP Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill (2025), and the UP State Public Service Commission Bill (2025).
