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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court has allowed the live streaming of proceedings exclusively of the inside of the Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura from August 25 to August 29, 2024.

The order was passed by the bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Anant Sharma and another regarding crowd management and pilgrim safety at the Banke Bihari Temple. Earlier, on August 5, the court had asked the state's counsel to outline immediate measures for managing the Janmashtami crowd at the temple. 

In pursuance of the order, Anmol Garg, a state official, submitted an affidavit detailing plans that included the installation of barricades and the live streaming of temple proceedings on strategically placed screens. The affidavit said that the live streaming is intended to allow a maximum number of devotees to witness the Deity, even if they cannot physically enter the temple during darshan hours.

The affidavit further explained that the placement of screens both inside and outside the temple would help manage the influx of devotees who are unable to see the Deity directly, thus aiding in crowd control. Additionally, the affidavit stated that the District Administration has also been preparing to manage the devotees.

As per the affidavit, following a decision by the Coordinate Committee in 2023, it was determined that only 600 people, including sevayats, would be permitted inside the temple during the Mangala Arti, and the temple doors would remain closed until the conclusion of the ceremony.

These 600 devotees would be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis, with the sevayats and a selected few permitted to witness the Mangala Arti. A holding area near the temple would be used to prevent overcrowding. A list of sevayats attending the Mangala Arti would be provided to the District Magistrate to ensure the total number of persons inside does not exceed 600, allowing for accurate head counts. Moreover, devotees will not be allowed to linger in the temple premises and will be required to leave immediately after darshan.

The affidavit also mentioned that 101 CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the crowd in the temple premises, entry and exit gates, and surrounding areas. These cameras will be monitored by a control room, with instructions issued via wireless and public address systems.

Additionally, arrangements have been made for 1,300 bar-coded e-rickshaws at designated parking areas, with six specific routes identified where only these e-rickshaws are permitted to operate.

In response to the affidavit, Advocate Sankalp Goswami raised some objections to the live streaming, to which the court clarified that the live streaming would only cover the proceedings inside the temple.

Court also directed that when installing CCTV cameras, the Civil Judge (Junior Division) should be consulted. The District Magistrate is required to follow the Civil Judge's directions and ensure compliance, it ordered.

Furthermore, the court emphasized that according to the scheme of administration dated March 31, 1939, the management is responsible for ensuring the convenience of worshipers and pilgrims and if the Management Committee is not duly constituted, these responsibilities fall to the Receiver appointed in the case, under the direction of the Munsif, Mathura.

Case Title: Anant Sharma And Another v. State Of U P And 3 Others