The right to auction temple land given to the temple priests in Madhya Pradesh

The money realised from the auctions will be credited into the Temple’s Bank account
The priests in the private temples are to be given an honorarium

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) – The Cabinet of Madhya Pradesh’s BJP Government has decided that the auction of the temple lands will be given to the temple priests and not the District Officer. It has also decided to give an honorarium to the priest working in private temples. In April, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced in this context. Now the decision about it has been declared.

BJP Government has decided that priests can now utilise the income generated from up to 10 acres of agricultural land associated with managed temples. Similarly, if the land exceeds 10 acres, the priests will retain the income from the first 10 acres and the remaining land will be auctioned for farming, with the proceeds deposited into the temple’s account. This decision has been taken to prevent the temple land from being encroached upon. The State has announced that the priests of temples without agricultural land would receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 5,000. It also said that priests of temples having 5 Acre agricultural land will be given Rs 2,500 honorarium.