Karnataka Governor refuses to sign Bill that allows imposing levy on temples earning over ₹10 lakh

Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot returns Karnataka temple bill, seeking clarification on amendments to religious institutions and charitable endowments act.

In a setback to the Congress government, amendments to Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997, that were cleared in the recently-concluded budget session amidst opposition from BJP, has been returned by Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

Seeking clarifications on the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Governor wants to know if the State Government has conceptualised any legislation to encompass other religious bodies in similar fashion. The Governor’s move of returning a bill for clarification is the first such since the Congress government came to power in May 2023, and comes close to the Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier, he had refused to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, telling the government to place the bill in the legislature since the session had already been convened. The bill, which was passed in legislature later, mandates that 60% text on signboards must be in Kannada language.

The amendments to the Endowment Act, to expand social security measures to over 40,000 archakas (temple caretakers) in Muzrai temples and also develop C category temples using funds from the income of richer temples, had been defeated in the Legislative Council by the combined opposition of BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) before it was passed again by the Legislative Assembly and cleared by the Council during the recently-concluded budget session.

The Governor has pointed out that amendments brought to the bill earlier in 2011 and 2012 had been struck down by the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court. The high court’s decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which has stayed the high court order. The case is in the stage of final hearing, he said.

Since the case is still pending in the Supreme Court, it is necessary to get more clarification whether the amendments can be made while the case is pending, specially when the entire Act has already been stuck down by the high court and the appeal is in the stage of final hearing, his office informed the State Government while returning the bill for clarifications.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry has sent the bill to the Muzrai Department seeking clarifications.