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More than 300 memos submitted from CM to Tehsildars against Temple Inam Abolition draft

  • Thousands of temples across the State unite against the ‘Maharashtra Temple Inam Abolition Draft Act’

  • Strong discontent against Government policy to take over Hindu temple lands

Devout Hindu organisations and temple trustees submitting a memo to the Sub-Divisional Officer in Sangli

Mumbai – The proposed ‘Maharashtra Temple Inam Abolition Draft Act, 2026’, put forward by the Revenue and Forest Department of the Maharashtra Government, is alleged to be one that would seize the lands of thousands of Hindu temples in the State and endanger their very existence. As the Government is preparing to enact this law during the upcoming Monsoon Session, more than 1,000 trustees, temple representatives, and Hindu organisations from the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, the Ashtavinayak temples, and all major temples across the State came together in opposition to what they termed an unjust law.

Mr Sunil Ghanwat submitting a memo to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against the Temple Inam Abolition Draft, in the presence of BJP MLAs Mr Pratap Adsad and Mr Vikram Pachpute.

In protest against the proposed legislation, temple trustees across the State simultaneously submitted more than 300 memorandums to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, several Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, MLAs, as well as various Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors, Sub-Divisional Officers, and Tehsildars. Through these memos, a unanimous demand was made that “this oppressive law, which would destroy the existence of Hindu temples, should be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally by the Government”. Taking serious note of this public anger, several MLAs in the State also reportedly mentioned before temple representatives that they would oppose the proposed law in the upcoming Monsoon Session out of respect for public sentiments.

Mr Sunil Ghanwat submitting a memo to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

The memo states,

1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and historical royal families had granted hundreds of acres of land as ‘inam’ in the names of temples for offerings, food distribution, and religious festivals conducted at the temples.

2. Through Sections 3 and 4 of the proposed ‘Maharashtra Temple Inam Abolition Draft Act’, a plan has allegedly been made to abolish all such inam lands and transfer lands donated to Deities into the hands of private individuals. Section 1 (Sub-section 2) of the proposed law has been termed highly biased, as it completely excludes Waqf Board lands from the scope of the Act and grants them special protection.

3. Lands belonging to Hindu temples are being taken away, while Waqf properties — which have illegally encroached upon thousands of Hindu-owned lands — are being protected. The memo further states that it is unfortunate that a Government elected with Hindu votes is engaging in such religious discrimination.

4. According to Section 18 of the draft, devotees or trustees would not be able to seek relief in civil courts against arbitrary decisions taken by revenue officials. The representation alleges that the doors of the judiciary are being closed to Hindus in a democratic system. Instead of removing illegal encroachments on temple lands, granting ownership rights directly to encroachers occupying lands before 1 January 2011 amounts to a legalised plundering of sacred temple property.

Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister assure a meeting with the Revenue Minister regarding the proposed law

Ratnagiri Guardian Minister Shri. Uday Samant

Taking serious note of this State-wide agitation, Ratnagiri Guardian Minister Uday Samant has assured that he would write to the Chief Minister urging that the law should not be enacted. National Organiser of the Temple Federation, Mr Sunil Ghanwat, personally met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to strongly oppose the proposed legislation. In response, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister said that they would immediately convene a meeting with the Revenue Minister.

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