The lands will remain under the control of the Government, they say. The move is intended to curb illegal encroachment on these lands and their sale, Government claims. Priests protest decision.
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Patna (Bihar) – The Bihar Government recently decided to declare 30,000 acres of land of Mutts and temples registered or affiliated with the Bihar State Religious Trust Board as public property. Association of priests threatened to march the streets to protest if the decision is not revoked. Only 4,200 of the many temples and Mutts found in the State have been recorded with the State Religious Trust Board.
State Law Minister Pramod Kumar said,
The move is meant to remove illegal encroachment and sale of these lands. The Religious Trust Board has learnt that Mutts and temples in 36 Districts have more than 30,000 acres of land. A significant part of these lands was heavily encroached upon. In some cases, the lands of Mutts and temples have already been sold.
Bihar priests protest move to declare 30,000 acres of temple land as public https://t.co/961jIoFAq1
— Hindustan Times (@HindustanTimes) November 29, 2021
There have been many cases of cheating naive buyers, who did not know that the land of Mutts and temples cannot be sold by any individual. By the time buyers learn the truth, the sellers disappear from the scene. Hence, we have made it clear that the lands of Mutts and temples are owned by the Deity of the shrine and that it should be declared public land. Any transaction of sale or purchase of such land by any individual is illegal. Besides, efforts are being made to bring all other Mutts and temples under the purview of the Religious Trust Board.
Hand over the responsibility of managing the lands of Mutts and temples to the priests ! – Demand by priests’ Association
The association of priests said they will not accept Government control on the land of the shrines. The decision to declare the land of Mutts and temples as public land is not in good taste. Their management should be given to the priests of the shrines.