SC Declines To Hear Plea Against VIP Darshan In Temples, Says THIS
The Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition challenging the VIP darshan system in temples, stating it cannot intervene.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition challenging the VIP darshan system in temples, stating that while it agrees with the concerns raised by the petitioner, it cannot intervene in the matter. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed that this issue does not warrant a judicial directive but clarified that state governments are free to take steps to abolish the system if they choose.
The petition, filed by Vijay Kumar Goswami, argued that many temples across the country offer VIP darshan facilities to those who can afford to pay higher amounts, while ordinary devotees, including children, women, and the elderly, are forced to wait in long queues for hours. The petitioner contended that this system is not only unfair but also violates fundamental rights such as equality and the right to a dignified life.
The petition named the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and 11 states — Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Assam — as respondents. It highlighted that several major temples charge between Rs 400 and Rs 5,000 for faster access and expressed concerns that similar practices could spread to other prominent temples.
The petitioner urged the Supreme Court to conduct a constitutional review of the VIP darshan system, establish a standardised policy for temple visits, and create a national oversight committee to monitor such practices and address devotees’ grievances. The court had previously in December acknowledged the petition as worthy of consideration. However, in its latest ruling, the bench, which also included Justice Sanjay Kumar, stated that while it supports the concerns raised, the Supreme Court cannot hold a hearing on the matter.
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