‘Lord Krishna Was First Mediator': Supreme Court Suggests Mediation In Banke Bihari Corridor Case
The Supreme Court called Lord Krishna the "first mediator" while urging mediation between Vrindavan's Shri Banke Bihari Temple and the UP government over redevelopment project.
The Supreme Court on Monday referred to the spirit of Lord Krishna, calling him the 'first mediator," while hearing the matter between Vrindavan's Shri Banke Bihari Temple and Uttar Pradesh government's ordinance about the proposed redevelopment of a corridor using Rs 500 crore from temple funds.
While seeking the mediation between the temple trust and the state government over the construction of the corridor, the top court said, 'Lord Krishna was the first mediator… please try to mediate the matter," Moneycontrol reported.
It also proposed to constitute a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to oversee the management of the temple.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also questioned the 'tearing hurry" in which the state government promulgated the Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, for taking over the management of the holy shrine from the ' goswamis," reported LiveLaw.
It expressed disapproval of the 'clandestine manner" in which the state government secured permission from the Supreme Court through the May 15 judgment for the use of temple funds for the corridor development project, by filing an application in a civil dispute.
Live Law.
The bench orally proposed to withdraw its May 15th order and said that the constitutional validity of the ordinance would be tested by the Allahabad High Court.
'We propose this… part of the (earlier) judgement we will keep in abeyance… we will have a former High Court judge, or senior retired district judge as management trustee…" it said.
This committee will run the temple while the ordinance's validity is determined. It further said that the Collector and other authorities will also be a part of the committee, and the ASI can also be associated with the committee for a holistic development of the region.
The daily rituals of the temple would be continued by the ' goswamis" as before, the Supreme Court said.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the state, has been given till 10.30 am tomorrow to confer with the UP government and reply to this proposal.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the former management of the Banke Bihari Temple, submitted that the ordinance ejected the goswamis, who were earlier managing the temple. He told the court that the ordinance vested the management with a trust under the control of the government.
What Was The May 15th Order?
On May 15, the top court paved the way for the state government's scheme to develop the temple corridor for the benefit of scores of devotees.
The bench had allowed the Uttar Pradesh government's plea to utilise the funds of Shri Banke Bihari Temple only for the purchase of 5-acre land around the temple to create a holding area.
Under the proposed scheme placed on record by the state for development for the temple, the court said, 5 acre land around the temple had to be acquired and developed by constructing parking lots, accommodation for the devotees, toilets, security check posts and other amenities.
The Supreme Court's May 15 verdict modified the November 8, 2023, order of the Allahabad High Court on a PIL filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, which accepted the state's ambitious scheme but refused to permit the state to utilise the temple funds.
Banke Bihari Temple
Built in 1862, the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan is one of the most revered and famous temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is managed by Shebaits, a hereditary priesthood that oversees daily rituals and temple administration.
The holds immense significance for devotees due to its unique customs, rich history, and the belief that Lord Krishna, in the form of Banke Bihari, directly interacts with his devotees.
Banke Bihari literally means 'bent in three places". The idol of Lord Krishna stands in the Tribhanga posture, a graceful threefold bending form, which is characteristic of Lord Krishna.
view comments
First Published:
August 04, 2025, 16:30 IST
News india 'Lord Krishna Was First Mediator': Supreme Court Suggests Mediation In Banke Bihari Corridor Case
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pollution Control Boards have power to impose restitutionary damages under Water, Air Acts, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 4, 2025) gave Pollution Control Boards more teeth by declaring their power to impose and collect restitutionary damages to completely restore polluted air and waterbodies back to their original, pristine selves in an ecosystem. 'We direct that Pollution Control Boards can impose and collect as restitutionary and compensatory damages fixed sums of monies or require furnishing bank guarantees as an ex-ante measure towards potential environmental damage in exercise of powers under Sections 33A and 31A of the Water and Air Acts,' Justice P.S. Narasimha, who authored the judgment, held. The judgment came on an appeal filed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee against a Delhi High Court decision that it was not empowered to levy compensatory damages in exercise of powers under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Bench, also comprising Justice Manoj Misra, further directed that the power to impose or collect restitutionary or compensatory damages or the requirement to furnish bank guarantees as an ex-ante measure under the Water and Air Acts should be enforced only after issuing the necessary subordinate legislation in the form of rules and regulations under both statutes. The rules must incorporate the basic principles of natural justice. 'According to the polluter pays principle, the responsibility for repairing the damage is that of the offending industry… The focus has to be on restoration of the ecosystem as close and similar as possible to the specific one that was damaged,' Justice Narasimha observed. The judgment said the payment of restitutory damages was distinct from charging punitive damages. 'Bringing the culprits to face the proceedings is a different matter and restoration of the damage already done is a different matter,' the court distinguished. Enormous responsibilities Justice Narasimha held that the Pollution Control Boards had expansive powers and 'enormous responsibilities' under the Water Act and the Air Act. They had a broad statutory mandate to prevent, control and abate water and air pollution. The provisions under these statutes bestowed the Boards with the power to direct closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process. Further, this power extended to directing the stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity, water or any other service. The laws allow the Boards significant flexibility in deciding the nature of directions. 'Our constitutionalism bears the hallmark of an expansive interpretation of fundamental rights. But such creative expansion is only a job half done if the depth of the remedies, consequent upon infringement, remain shallow. In other words, remedial jurisprudence must keep pace with expanding rights and regulatory challenges. It is not sufficient that courts adopt injunctory, mandatory and compensatory remedies… Remedial powers or restitutionary directives are a necessary concomitant of both the fundamental rights of citizens who suffer environmental wrongs and an equal concomitant of the duties of a statutory regulator,' Justice Narasimha wrote.
New Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
China's Ant Group to fully exit Paytm by selling 5.84% stake
China's Ant Group is all set to exit One 97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, as it plans to sell its remaining 5.84% equity stake in the fintech firm through block deals on Tuesday. Sources said that the total value of the deal is pegged at Rs 3,800 crore. The floor price for the block deal has been fixed at Rs 1,020 per share, a 5.4% discount to Paytm's last closing price of Rs 1,078.20 on Monday on the NSE. The stake sale is likely to be executed as a clean-out trade, indicating a full exit of Antfin's specified stake in a single tranche. At the end of the June quarter, Antfin (Netherlands) Holding B.V. held a 5.84% stake, or 3.77 crore shares in the company, according to exchange data. Antfin has been reducing its stake in Paytm in recent quarters. This is the third significant stake sale by the Ant Group in One 97 Communications and is expected to lead to the full exit of the Chinese investor from the company. In May 2025 and August 2023, the Alibaba-owned company sold about a 14.3% stake of Paytm for about Rs 8,830 crore.
India Today
22 minutes ago
- India Today
Bengaluru techie earning Rs 26 LPA bags Rs 70 LPA offer, reveals how in viral post
A Bengaluru-based techie claimed he received an offer of Rs 70 LPA from a company while earning Rs 28 LPA. Yes, you read that right. Surprisingly, he said he had only switched two his journey in a now-viral post on X, Saurabh Yadav said he had no IIT background, no MBA, or any other fancy degree.'First job: Rs 26 LPA, second: Rs 28 LPA, third: Rs 70 LPA. No IIT, no MBA, just worked hard. What about you?' read the caption on his Yadav, who had previously worked at Flipkart, shared a detailed post about his remarkable salary hike, from Rs 26 LPA to Rs 70 LPA, which he achieved after just two job switches. His post soon went viral on social media, drawing attention for showing how consistent effort and strategic career moves can lead to significant growth, even without degrees from prestigious institutions like IITs or an had previously worked at a look at the post here:first job: 26LPAsecond: 28LPAthird: 70LPAno IIT. no MBA. just worked about you?— Saurabh (@saurabhyadavz) August 3, 2025The comments section was soon flooded with reactions. "Awesome, man," a user wrote, while another added, "Just saw you're from my college. Quite an inspiration."Several others congratulated Yadav on his achievement, calling his journey both motivating and the comments here:Some users also shared their experiences in the comments section. "First job: Rs 36LPA. Second: Rs 98LPA. No IIT, no MBA. Just worked hard," a user commented.- EndsTrending Reel
