The Allahabad High Court has adjourned the hearing regarding the Bankey Bihari temple case until August 20, 2025. This adjournment was decided on Thursday, August 7. The central issue revolves around a petition challenging the validity of The Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025.

During the proceedings, the state counsel informed the court that the same matter concerning the ordinance's validity is already under consideration by the Supreme Court. The petition before the Allahabad High Court was filed by Sri Bankey Bihari Ji and two others.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal presided over the proceedings. During a previous hearing, Justice Agarwal suggested to Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, Manish Goel, that amending the ordinance to address concerns about including bureaucrats in the proposed trust responsible for overseeing the Mathura temple would be advisable. The court voiced its apprehension that the government's attempt to exert control over the temple via the ordinance might violate Article 25 of the Constitution.

Amicus curiae Sanjay Goswami had previously raised concerns about the state's authority to issue the ordinance, asserting that the temple is private and managed by the heirs of late Swami Hari Das Ji, and that the government was attempting to control the temple through indirect means. Goswami also argued against the necessity of appointing ex-officio trustees by the state, viewing it as governmental overreach into a private temple managed by the Goswamis.

In a related development, the Supreme Court had earlier questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's "tearing hurry" in promulgating the ordinance and expressed disapproval of the "clandestine manner" in which the government sought permission to use temple funds for a corridor development project in Mathura. The Supreme Court is considering the formation of an interim management committee for the temple, potentially headed by a retired High Court judge. The Uttar Pradesh government has expressed its openness to this proposal, suggesting that the judge be a Sanatani Hindu belonging to the Vaishnav sect to uphold the religious sentiments of devotees. The state clarified that it would not object to the court constituting an interim committee, provided it is led by a retired High Court judge. Such a committee could manage the temple's affairs and access temple funds to initiate work on the corridor project, pending the ordinance's implementation.

Furthermore, the state has committed to financing the project in partnership with the temple administration, similar to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple redevelopment. The state government has also stated that the land the temple is on belongs to Govind Deo temple, according to revenue records.

Separately, the Allahabad High Court has scheduled a hearing for September 23 regarding an ASI survey of the wazukhana area (excluding the Shiva Linga) inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.