Congress Bill to Tax Temples Rejected by Karnataka Opposition

The opposition BJP-JD(S) combination in the Legislative Council vetoed a measure that attempted to collect revenue from temples with yearly incomes over Rs 10 lakh, dealing a blow to the ruling Congress party in Karnataka.

Earlier this week, the Legislative Assembly enacted the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

In the Upper House, where the Opposition has a majority, it was rejected on Friday by a voice vote.

The bill, among other things, suggests that 5% of gross income from temples that earn between Rs. 10 lakh and less than Rs. one crore and 10% from temples that earn more than Rs. one crore be collected and deposited into a Common Pool Fund that will be managed by the 'Rajya Dharmika Parishath'. This fund is intended to be used for the welfare of Archakas (priests) and the maintenance of 'C' category temples (state-controlled) that earn less than Rs. five lakh annually.

The 2011 amendment to the legislation said that the fund would receive 5% of the net revenue of temples earning between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh annually, and 10% of the net income of temples earning more than Rs. 10 lakh annually.

The BJP in particular, which accused the ruling Congress of trying to fill its "empty coffers" with temple money, was incensed by the amendment bill and sought to turn the tables by claiming that the saffron party had amended the bill in 2011 to seek funds from wealthy Hindu shrines. This created a great deal of controversy.

While applauding the decision to provide Archakas social security, Leader of the Opposition in Council Kota Srinivas Poojary, a former Muzrai Minister in the BJP administration, was against diverting temple funds.

He asked why the government couldn't include money for their welfare in the budget.

The government's proposed nomination of the temple committee president was also contested by the opposition in the bill.

In an attempt to persuade the opposition, Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy gave the House assurances that the government would not obstruct the appointment of the president of the temple committee and that it would lower the sum that was being suggested to be transferred from the temples to the common pool.

The aim of the law, he pointed out, is the welfare of Archakas in 'C' category temples and the maintenance of such temples; it just makes small modifications to what the BJP government had recommended in 2011.

Reddy requested an extension till Monday because he needs to examine the law with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah since it had financial ramifications, despite the opposition's insistence that revisions be made before it is enacted.

The House has already taken up the measure for discussion, therefore according to Deputy Chairman M K Pranesh, who was in the chair, there is no such provision. He did not, however, offer time till Monday.

After then, the Bill was put to a vote, and the opposing BJP-JD(S) combination won.

This is the second such blow to the Congress administration this session; earlier this week, the Karnataka Souharda Cooperative (Amendment) Bill 2024 was sent to the select committee by the joint BJP-JD(S) government.

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