The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition challenging the increasing trend of ‘VIP darshan’ and paid entry at temples across India.
On Friday, a division bench led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and P.V. Sanjay Kumar directed that the matter be scheduled for a detailed hearing in the second week of December, noting that the case requires a thorough examination.
The petition was submitted by Vijay Kishor Goswami, who argued that the concept of a ‘Very Important Person’ (VIP) is not legally defined and that the practice of VIP darshan across temples causes undue hardship for ordinary devotees. He pointed that these practices foster discrimination, favoring those who can afford the privilege.
Goswami also criticized the widespread use of paid queues and darshans, arguing that devotees willing to pay steep fees receive preferential treatment, while others face prolonged wait times, impeding their right to worship.
Advocates Sarthak Ghonkrokta and Akash Vashishtha, representing the petitioner, argued that such systems are unfairly based on wealth and infringe on the fundamental rights to equality, dignity, and religious freedom.
The petition lists the Union government, represented by the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, and several states—including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Assam, and Jharkhand—as respondents.
Additionally, the petition calls for the formation of a national board with a structured, multi-tier framework to address grievances related to temple practices and management of other religious or sacred public spaces.
It also requests the implementation of standardized procedures to ensure fair and regulated access for all devotees. After preliminary arguments, the bench scheduled further discussions for the week starting December 9, noting the need for an in-depth examination of the issue.
