NEW DELHI: The Allahabad High Court has directed that prayers at Vrindavan’s Bankey Bihari temple be live-streamed during the upcoming Janmashtami celebrations, in consultation with the civil judge of Mathura.
This order is significant in light of a stampede that occurred at the temple last year.
The court stated, “When the CCTV cameras are installed, the civil judge (junior division) shall be consulted. The district magistrate shall abide by the directions of the civil judge and ensure their compliance.”
The order was issued by a bench of Justices Siddhartha Verma and Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on Wednesday while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Anant Sharma and another petitioner from Mathura, following the stampede in August of the previous year.
The Uttar Pradesh government’s counsel informed the court that the flow of devotees would be managed by installing barricades inside the temple. The lawyer explained,