The Karnataka government recently passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment bill, mandating a 10% tax on the income of temples exceeding Rs 1 crore.
- Karnataka passes bill on collection of funds from temples
- State will collect 10% of the temple’s income, as per bill
- This is applicable to temples with income of more than Rs 1 crore
Temple Tax Purpose:
The government claims the collected funds will be used for “dharmic parishad” purposes, which include:
- Uplifting the economic status of priests
- Improving the condition of C-grade temples (temples considered to be in poor condition)
- Providing quality education to children of priests
Controversy over Temple Tax
The BJP criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government for this bill, accusing it of pursuing “anti-Hindu policies” and expressing concerns about potential fund misuse.
Vijayendra Yediyurappa, the BJP’s Karnataka unit president, criticised the Congress government, alleging that it was attempting to replenish its funds through this bill. He questioned why the state government was only targeting Hindu temples for revenue collection, neglecting other religious structures.
