Karnataka temple tax bill, hanging fire for over two months, sent to President
A bill that seeks to levy a tax on rich temples in Karnataka has been forwarded by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to President Droupadi Murmu for her approval. The development comes weeks after Gehlot returned the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to the Siddaramaiah government, seeking clarifications amid opposition from other parties.The bill, cleared by both the Assembly and Legislative Council this year, had been hanging fire since March. The move comes after the Supreme Court set a fixed timeline for governors to decide on giving or denying a nod to bills passed by state assemblies.advertisementAs per the recent Supreme Court order, the President now has three months to decide on the bill.
The bill, which sparked a massive political row earlier this year, proposes a 5% and 10% levy on temples earning between Rs 10 lakh-Rs 1 crore annually and those above Rs 1 crore respectively.The government has said the collection will be put into a consolidated fund and be used for the welfare of smaller temples, the upliftment of financially weak priests, and to provide quality education to their children.It also aims to support 'C category' state-run temples having an annual income below Rs 5 lakh and ensure their maintenance.However, the opposition BJP has accused the Congress government of framing "anti-Hindu" policies and alleged that there was bound to be violence, fraud and misuse of the funds.advertisementThe BJP's Karnataka unit president, Vijayendra Yediyurappa, had alleged that the Congress government was trying to fill its "empty coffers" through the legislation.The BJP also asked why the Siddaramaiah government was only collecting revenue from Hindu temples and not other religious institutions.Tune InTrending Reel
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