Karnataka: BJP-Led Govt Notifies Law To Protect Shrines At Public Places From Demolition

The state government passed the Bill on September 21 and notified on October 22. 

Chennai: The Karnataka government notified Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Act to protect religious structures in public places in the state from demolition. 

According to a report on PTI, the Karnataka government passed the Bill in the monsoon session of the state Legislature aiming to protect religious structures in public places from demolition. The law will reportedly protect religious places including temples, churches, mosques, and buddha vihar built in public places without permission from the corporation or government. However, the religious places built after the passing of the law will not receive protection under the Act. 

The state government passed the Bill on September 21 and notified on October 22. 

The government notified the Act after Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot gave assent to the Act. 

The BJP government passed the Act after receiving the wrath of BJP members for demolition a temple in the Mysuru district. A viral video during the demotion led to a ruckus among the right-wing Hindu groups.

In a press conference after demolition, CM Bommai said that the government has issued a show-cause notice to the Mysuru administration for failing to take consideration of the government for the demolition and asked the authorities to put the drive on hold for two days to study the SC order. The state government following the opposition and SC direction came up with the Act.

However, even earlier, the state government has demolished several religious structures on government lands in the past few years based on the directions of the Supreme Court.