Karnataka Assembly Successfully Passes Temple Bill After Council Rejection: What's Next?

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly revisited and reapproved the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Thursday, after it faced defeat in the legislative council the previous week due to opposition from the BJP-JD(S) combine.

This bill aims to gather funds from temples with an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

Karnataka Assembly Successfully Passes Temple Bill

Once again approved by the assembly, the bill will now be forwarded directly to the Governor for his assent, after which it will be enacted into law. During the proceedings, Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy reintroduced the bill, highlighting its prior passage in the assembly and subsequent defeat in the council. Following this, Speaker U T Khader called for a vote, and the bill was passed by a voice vote.

The bill's reintroduction stirred controversy, particularly among the opposition parties, notably the BJP, which criticized the ruling Congress for purportedly seeking to augment its finances by tapping into temple funds.

The proposed legislation entails collecting five per cent of the income from temples earning between Rs 10 lakh and less than Rs one crore annually, and ten per cent from temples with incomes surpassing Rs one crore. These funds are intended to be allocated to a Common Pool Fund managed by the 'Rajya Dharmika Parishath', designated for the welfare of priests (Archakas) and the maintenance of 'C' category temples under state control, which have an annual income below Rs five lakh.

The bill's origins can be traced back to an amendment made in 2011, which similarly sought contributions from temples based on their income levels. This move underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the financial management of religious institutions and the allocation of resources for their maintenance and welfare initiatives.