Proceedings Inside Bankey Bihariji Temple Be Shown Via Live Streaming: Allahabad HC Orders For Crowd Management During Janmashtami

For the purpose of crowd management during Janmashtami festival, the Allahabad High Court has ordered that the proceedings inside Bankey Bihariji Temple, Vrindavan shall be shown via live streaming.

The Court ordered thus in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a person named Anant Sharma and another.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra said, “Since Sri Sankalp Goswami, Advocate had certain objections to the live streaming therefore, we provide that only the streaming of the proceedings inside the temple shall be shown by means of live streaming. The steps thus as were to be taken as per paragraph 6(i) of the affidavit be accordingly modified.”

The Bench added that when the CCTV cameras are installed, the Civil Judge (Junior Division) shall be consulted and the District Magistrate shall abide by the directions of the Civil Judge (Junior Division) and shall ensure their compliance.

Advocate General Ajay Kumar Misra appeared for the petitioners while Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, Chief Standing Counsels Kunal Ravi Singh and Ishan Mehta appeared for the respondents.

In this case, by an order of the Court in the PIL, there were certain directions to the State Government. Due to certain unavoidable reasons, the State was not able to comply with the directions of the Court. There was, however, an application filed by the State for the modification of the order. When that application was taken up and when there were certain objections taken to it by certain private individuals, and when the same could not be decided, the Court was concerned with regard to the crowd management on the festival of Shree Krishna Janmasthami, and, therefore, on August 5, the Court had passed an order for the live streaming the proceedings inside the temple by installing screens at strategic areas. However, Advocate Sankalp Goswami had certain objections to the same.

The High Court in the above regard noted, “In pursuance of the order of this Court, an affidavit has been filed by Sri Anmol Garg, who is an official of the State that proper arrangements would be made. The arrangement had been enumerated in paragraphs 6 to 21 of the affidavit.”

The Court said that the order was passed because it was shown the scheme of administration for the Sevayats in which it was stated that the arrangements for the convenience of the worshipers and pilgrims shall be the responsibility of the management and also since in the scheme it was stated that when the Management Committee is not duly constituted then the rights vested by the scheme shall be exercised by the Receiver appointed in the case subject to the directions of the Munsif, Mathura.

“It has been agreed that the scheme of administration as was formulated by the Munsif, Mathura in 1939 still exists, though it has been challenged in some petition before this Court. … It is made clear that this arrangement is for the forthcoming Janmashtami festival to be held between the 25th to 29th August, 2024. Needless to mention that any unforeseen law and order problem shall be dealt with by the Administration in accordance with law”, it concluded.

Accordingly, the High Court listed the case on August 28, 2024.

Cause Title- Anant Sharma and Another v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Click here to read/download the Order