By: Express News ServiceNew Delhi | December 15, 2025 05:24 PM IST 3 min readDivan said the change in the timings “has led to a change in the internal temple rituals, including the timings when the deity wakes up in the morning and sleeps at night." (File Photo)The Supreme Court on Monday called out what it said is the practice of the rich and privileged being unauthorisedly allowed by some temple administrators to do private pujas during the resting hours of the deity, in violation of customs.Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, presiding over a three-judge bench, conveyed the concern while hearing a plea related to the Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.In August last year, the Supreme Court while staying the operation of the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance 2025, which brought the administration of the shrine under a trust, also set up a 14-member Temple Management Committee under former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar to “oversee and supervise the day-to-day functioning inside and outside” the temple till the high court makes a decision on the constitutional validity of the ordinance.The fresh plea, filed by some temple sewayats, raised questions on the subsequent change in darshan timings and the stopping of some pujas in the shrine.The bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi issued a notice to the administrative committee and posted the petition for hearing in the first week of January 2026.Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Shyam Divan sought to underline the significance of timings allotted for darshan. “The darshan timings are part of tradition and rituals. The timings during which the temple is open to the public are a part of a long tradition,” he said.Divan said the change in the timings “has led to a change in the internal temple rituals, including the timings when the deity wakes up in the morning and sleeps at night”.Story continues below this adThe CJI then remarked orally, “What they do is, after closing the temple at 12 noon… they do not allow the deity to rest even for a second… they exploit the deity like anything. The so-called affluent people, those who can afford to pay hefty amounts, they are allowed to do special pujas.”The senior counsel said it “is not so”. He pointed out that the court should ensure that such practices are banished.“Your lordships may ensure that it is proscribed. It is a very important period of rest for the deity. This is important. The Court is raising an extremely important point. The timings are sacrosanct and should be maintained,” he said.The CJI, however, repeated, “This is the time when they indulge in all kinds of these practices that they invite people who can pay, and special pujas are done.”Story continues below this adDivan said that no one had complained about such things at the Banke Bihari temple, “but the apprehension…is correct and can be separately addressed”. © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Banke Bihari templeThe Supreme Court of India