Karnataka Temple Tax Bill Sent to President After Months of Delay

The contentious Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes a tax on wealthy Hindu temples in the state, has been forwarded to President Droupadi Murmu by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for final approval. This development follows weeks after the governor returned the bill to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government seeking clarifications.

The bill had been cleared by both the Assembly and Legislative Council earlier this year but remained in limbo since March. Its forwarding comes in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandates governors to act within a defined timeframe on bills passed by state legislatures. The President now has three months to decide on the matter.

The bill proposes a 5% levy on temples earning between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore annually, and 10% on those earning above ₹1 crore. The funds are intended for the welfare of smaller temples, the upliftment of economically weak priests, and to support education and infrastructure development in under-resourced religious institutions.

However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, with state party president Vijayendra Yediyurappa accusing the Congress of targeting only Hindu temples and labelling the legislation as “anti-Hindu.” He warned of possible misuse, fraud, and unrest stemming from the implementation.

The state government has defended the bill as a step toward equitable religious management and support for underfunded temples.