Karnataka temple tax bill sent to President after two month delay

The Karnataka government’s controversial temple tax bill has now been sent to President Droupadi Murmu for approval, after being held up for over two months. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who had earlier returned the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, forwarded it this week following a Supreme Court directive urging timely decisions on pending state bills.

The bill proposes a 5% levy on temples earning between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore annually and a 10% levy on those earning above ₹1 crore. The revenue collected would go into a consolidated fund to support smaller temples, help underpaid priests, and fund the education of their children. The move is aimed at strengthening ‘C category’ temples with annual incomes below ₹5 lakh, ensuring their proper maintenance and operation.

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has defended the bill as a step toward equity among temple institutions, stating that the tax will promote sustainability and help religious establishments in financial distress. However, the BJP has launched a sharp attack, calling the move discriminatory and “anti-Hindu.”

BJP leaders argue that the government is unfairly targeting only Hindu temples while leaving other religious institutions untouched. State BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa accused the Congress of trying to “fill empty coffers” and warned of possible mismanagement and corruption in the use of temple funds.

With the bill now in the President’s hands, a decision is expected within three months as mandated by the Supreme Court. The issue is likely to remain politically sensitive as both sides harden their positions ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.