The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is unwilling to tolerate anything that might hinder Mathura’s Bankey Bihari temple from redevelopment, following a court-appointed committee’s grave allegations of diversion of the donation money made to the temple and opposition to government land acquisition.
The High-Powered Temple Committee (HPTC) led by former High Court judge Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar had alleged that donation bags are being set up near the donation boxes of its premises and donations were being collected from these bags by people from the Goswami sect and their agents. According to the report, QR codes set up for online temple contributions were also either blotted out or otherwise damaged.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued instructions on how all donations are to be made through the official temple boxes for donations or online treasury. The Supreme Court cautioned that if the attention is drawn to a misuse of temple funds, then the police might take measures.
The court was also given a concern regarding the delays in acquisition of land for the redevelopment project of the temple. It is estimated that around 22,850 square metres is required, while approximately 19,182 square metres is left to be acquired, in 188 plots.
In a complaint to the HPTC, some of the members of the union were inciting other nearby property owners to withhold their land from the project, the HPTC claimed. The proposed redevelopment will feature facilities such as medical services, washrooms, and waiting areas for pilgrims, as well as food courts.
The representatives of the Goswamis have challenged the committee’s report and will provide their response to it.