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The Temple Bill was passed in both houses of the Assembly in February this year. The bill aims to collect funds from rich temples to be used for the development of smaller temples and the welfare of the priests.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. (File)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sought a few clarifications from the state government on Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill, 2024, popularly known as Temple Bill. The bill allows the government to collect 10 per cent of the revenue collected from temples earning more than Rs 1 crore.
The state government had faced criticism from the opposition BJP and the pro-Hindu groups claiming the ‘taxation’ on temples.
After it was passed in the Legislative Assembly, the bill was rejected in the Legislative Council where the BJP and JDS combined have more numbers.
Facing embarrassment, the state government repassed the bill in Assembly and the got it cleared in the Council amid protests by the BJP.
The bill was sent to the Governor for his assent. Now, the Governor has sought some clarifications from the state government regarding the bill. The state government will issue the clarification and the bill is likely to be resent to the Government for his approval.
The bill aims to collect 10 per cent of the revenue from temples earning more than Rs 1 crore and put them in a common pool. The bill also states that temples earning more than Rs 10 lakh will have to give 5 per cent of their revenue to the pool.
The funds collected in the common pool are aimed to be spent on the development of smaller temples and the welfare of priests.
The opposition BJP had accused the ruling Congress of bringing in “anti-Hindu” policies. The Congress had rejected the charge and claimed that a similar bill was brought in by the BJP earlier.
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