The Supreme Court, on Friday, declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the practice of offering preferential treatment to VIPs through “VIP darshan” fees in temples. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, stated that such matters are best left to the discretion of society and temple managements, rather than being dictated by court directives.
The PIL, filed by Vijay Kishor Goswami, a ‘sevait’ at Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindavan, criticized the differential treatment facilitated by additional charges for expedited access to deities, arguing that it violates the principles of equality as outlined in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner contended that the fees, ranging between Rs 400 and Rs 500, discriminate against those who cannot afford them, including disadvantaged groups such as women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
Advocate Akash Vashishtha, representing the petitioner, highlighted the lack of uniformity in the practice across different states, noting that while some directives have been issued to Andhra Pradesh, other states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have not addressed the issue.
The court, however, emphasized that it is not within its jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution to prescribe how temples should be managed or to enforce a standard operating procedure. Despite refusing to issue a directive, the bench noted that the dismissal of the petition does not prevent appropriate authorities from taking necessary actions.
