The Supreme Court on January 27, 2026, dismissed a petition challenging the VIP darshan practice at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant told advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented petitioner Darpan Awasthi, that the court is not a gatekeeper for temple access. "In the presence of Mahakal (the deity), nobody is a VIP," the Chief Justice said. Mr. Jain wanted a uniform policy, especially for entering the sanctum sanctorum. The court responded, "The court is not the one to decide on this. Let those at the helm of affairs decide. We are only about justiciability." Mr. Awasthi had challenged a Madhya Pradesh High Court order which allowed VIPs preferential entry to offer water to the deity, while denying the general public. The CJI noted, "People would want to enter because somebody else is doing it. Then they will say we want to chant mantras as part of our right to speak. All fundamental rights have to be practised inside the sanctum sanctorum? Please go and make your representation before the authority concerned." The petition was allowed to be withdrawn. In a separate case, Chief Justice Kant praised temples with minimal government interference in management, stating they have better facilities for pilgrims. Referring to the Anjaneya temple at Anjanadri Hills in Karnataka’s Koppal district, he said, "There are now good facilities from the donations. When the government constitutes a committee, we are not saying everybody may be right; most of them are spending that amount [from donations] for the welfare of visitors. There are good places to stay, good roads, primary hospitals… All the basic amenities are provided."