"Will you bring similar law for other religious bodies", Karnataka Governor returns temple tax bill

Mangalore Today News Network/News18

Bengaluru, Mar 21, 2024: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has returned the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Amendment Bill to the government, seeking clarification.

 

The Governor has pointed out that a case is currently being heard in the Supreme Court regarding Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Amendment Bill, 1997, and amendments to it. He has asked if there can be an additional amendment now when the case is before the apex court.

“It is also perused that the Act and amendments made in the year 2011 and 2012 have been struck down by the High Court Dharwad Bench in WA No 3440/2005. It is informed that the said High Court decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the Apex Court has stayed the High Court Order and the case is in the stage of final hearing. Since the case is still pending in Supreme Court, it is necessary to get more clarification whether the amendment can be made during the pendency of the case, specifically when the entire Act has already been struck down by the High Court & and case in appeal is at the stage of final hearing,” the Raj Bhavan has stated in its reply.

The amendment moved in February this year mandates that the government will collect 10 per cent of the income of temples that have revenue of more than Rs 1 crore and 5 per cent from temples earning between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore. The money collected would be in the Common Pool Fund to fund poor ‘C’ grade temples and provide several facilities for temple priests and their families.

The Raj Bhavan has also asked if “the state government conceptualised any legislation to encompass other religious bodies in similar fashion as this Bill”.

Responding to the development, transport and Muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy said the government will provide the required clarification. “The legal department will provide the clarification. There are two specific clauses, we will elaborate and write to the Raj Bhavan,” he said.

There are 34,563 temples in the state. Under Category A, there are 201 temples whose gross annual income exceeds Rs 25 lakh. Under Category B, there are 139 notified temples whose gross annual income exceeds Rs 5 lakh but does not exceed Rs Rs 25 lakh. Under Category C, there are 34,223 notified temples whose gross annual income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh and they are dependent on the government for day-to-day operations.