The Supreme Court of India has strongly admonished the Uttar Pradesh government for intervening in a private management dispute involving the 1862-built Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura - where authority traditionally rests with Shebaits, the hereditary priests overseeing rituals and administration.

Addressing state intervention, a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and S. Chandra Sharma declared: “If state enters into a private dispute, the rule of law will break down”, questioning the legitimacy of the government’s involvement in litigation between private parties .

At one point, the bench framed its stance dramatically: “Lord Krishna was the first mediator”, underscoring that mediation in temple affairs cannot be outsourced to state actors.

On May 15, 2025, the Court had permitted a ₹500 crore corridor redevelopment - clearing the way for using temple funds to acquire nearby land, provided it was registered in the deity’s name . However, custodians including Devendra Nath Goswami, who claim a 500‑year legacy as temple caretakers, filed a review petition challenging this order, arguing they were excluded from the decision-making process.

With the next hearing scheduled for July 2025, the case highlights broader tensions between religious autonomy, temple management, and government authority, especially as spiritual heritage intersects with urban development.