Karnataka Governor Sends Back Religious Institutions Bill For Temple Levy, Seeks Clarity

The Bill, aimed at amending religious institution regulations, proposed levying a 5% fee on temples with annual incomes ranging from Rs 10 lakhs to less than Rs one crore. 

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sent back Karnataka Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill 2024 to the State Government requesting further clarifications before approval. The Bill, aimed at amending religious institution regulations, proposed levying a 5% fee on temples with annual incomes ranging from Rs 10 lakhs to less than Rs one crore. 

According to ANI, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot returns the Karnataka Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill 2024 to the State Government with a direction to re-submit the file with clarifications. The Bill proposed to collect 5% from temples whose gross income is between Rs 10 lakhs and less than Rs one crore. And, for temples whose annual income is above Rs 1 crore, the state government would collect 10% of the funds.

The Bill aids the allocation of funds specifically earmarked for a Common Pool Fund managed by 'Rajya Dharmika Parishath' to assist in the welfare of priests and the upkeep of 'C' category temples (state-controlled) with an annual income below Rs five lakh.

Previously amended in 2011, the legislation mandates that five percent of the net income from temples earning between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh annually, and ten percent from temples with an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh, be allocated towards this fund.

The amendment ignited considerable controversy, drawing criticism from the opposition, notably the BJP. They accused the ruling Congress of seeking to bolster its financial reserves at the expense of temple funds. However, the Congress countered by alleging that the saffron party had initiated a similar amendment in 2011 to secure funds from high-income Hindu temples.