Bihar Mandates Online Registration For Temples And Mutts, Asset Disclosure Required

The Bihar government has instructed all District Magistrates (DMs) to ensure the registration of unregistered temples, mutts, and trusts within their jurisdictions. These entities must also submit details of their immovable assets to the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts (BSBRT) for online listing. The BSBRT operates under the state's law department.

According to Bihar Law Minister Nitin Nabin, "All district magistrates (DMs) have been directed to ensure that unregistered temples, mutts, and trusts are registered on a priority basis." He added that the DMs must ensure that details of immovable assets for all registered temples and mutts are promptly submitted to the BSBRT for online publication.

Ban on Sale/Purchase of Immovable Properties

Nitin Nabin has also mandated that DMs prevent the sale or purchase of immovable properties belonging to registered temples and monasteries. He emphasized that stringent action would be taken against those involved in illegal property transactions. This includes both registered entities and those failing to register with the BSBRT.

The Bihar Hindu Religious Trust Act, 1950 requires all public temples, monasteries, trusts, and dharamshalas in Bihar to be registered under BSBRT. The minister highlighted that registration is essential to protect these properties from unauthorized claims.

High-Level Meeting Planned

A high-level meeting involving officials from the Law, Revenue, and Land Reforms departments will be convened to address these issues. The minister stressed that safeguarding property through registration is crucial for both registered and unregistered entities.

Recent data from the BSBRT indicates there are approximately 2,512 unregistered temples and mutts in Bihar. These entities collectively hold around 4,321.64 acres of land. In comparison, about 2,499 registered temples own over 18,456 acres.

Unregistered Temples by District

The districts with the highest numbers of unregistered temples and mutts include Vaishali (438), Kaimur Bhabhua (307), West Champaran (273), Bhagalpur (191), Begusarai (185), Saran (154), and Gaya (152).

Kaimur Bhabhua alone has 307 unregistered entities covering approximately 813 acres. Khagaria has 100 unregistered entities with around 722 acres, while Banka district has 78 unregistered temples and mutts holding about 332 acres.

Nitin Nabin mentioned that only 18 districts have so far submitted data to the BSBRT following his recent directive. He urged all DMs to expedite this process to ensure compliance with state regulations.

The state government aims to protect temple properties from unauthorized claims through mandatory registration. This initiative seeks to bring transparency and accountability in managing religious properties across Bihar.