Karnataka Legislative Council rejects Bill imposing tax on temples in the State

• A blow to Congress Govt
• The Bill is to be re-tabled on 26th February in the Legislative Assembly session 

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – The Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Amendment Bill, 2024 was tabled on 23rd February 2024 in the Karnataka State Legislative Council (SLC), which was rejected. Members of BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) objected to the Bill when Dy Chairman M K Pranesh of SLC demanded voice voting. The opposition members voted against the Bill and rejected it. Seven members voted in favour of the Bill out of 18 members who cast their votes. The Bill was approved in the State Legislative Assembly (SLA). Ramalinga Reddy, the Minister of Transport and Muzrai Department, said after the Bill was rejected in SLC that everything was not lost. The Bill would be once again presented in SLA. Temples with more than a crore of rupees revenue will be charged 10% tax and temples with less than one crore rupees would be charged 5% tax.

The money will be used for any religious activity – CM Siddaramaiah 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said in this connection that the law was implemented in 2023. Earlier 5% tax was levied on the temples which generated more than Rs 5 lakh revenue. The amended Act says temple funds can be used for any religious cause related to Hindu Dharma. It will not be used for any other purpose or the benefit of followers of other religions. Temple funds will be used only for the welfare and development of Hindus. He added that the accusations of wrong distribution of temple funds or improper levy of tax were refuted by the Government.

Editorial Perspective

Hindus are only paying tax in this country and the country is run using that money; therefore, money belonging to Hindus’ temples should be spent only on Hindus’ temples. It will, however, be possible only when temples are handed over to devotees for management.

Govt claims to have control over ‘C’ Class temples through the funds collected under this Act

The State Transport and Muzrai Department Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated while tabling the Bill that the Government has been getting Rs 8 crore under the existing law. The Government will get Rs 60 crore after the new Bill is passed and ‘C’ Grade temples will be managed through these funds. There are 34,165 ‘C’ Class temples in the State with more than 40,000 priests. The funds will be used for the construction of houses for these priests and for giving scholarships to their children. They are even insured by the State.

Government should give Rs 200 crore for development of ‘C’ Class temples – BJP

While opposing this Bill, the Opposition leader in SLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary said that it was not proper to collect 10% amount of the temple income. If Rs 100 crore were collected, Rs 10 crore may be given to the Government, but expenses should be reduced before that and then, the Government can take its share. The Government should provide  Rs 200 crore for the development of temples.

BJP MLA N Ravikumar said that Rs 60 crore was not a big amount for the State Government. A provision of Rs 300 crore should be made for the development of temples.

Minister Reddy is going to table the Bill on 26th February 2024 which was opposed by Dy Chairman Pranesh, asking him to conduct a voice vote. After the Bill was rejected, BJP members raised slogans of ‘Jai Shriram’ while Congress members raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Jai Bhim’.

Editorial Perspective

Despite opposition by Hindus and rejection of the Bill in the Legislative Council, if the Congress Government insists on taxing temples, Hindus and their organisations need to take to the streets, lawfully, and take the Government to task.