Temple and Religious Endowments

Enact “The Hindu Temple and Religious Endowments Act” by the Central Government:

Temples are the soul and life of Hinduism, and which is why they have been the targets of incessant attacks for hundreds of years. With the State Governments taking over control of large number of Hindu temples along with their properties, the Hindu society has been deprived of institutional capacity for self-correction, self-defense, development of spiritual leadership and organic growth. The Hindu temples have been converted intoGovernmentoffices and/or commercial complexes; there is large scale misappropriation and diversion of their properties and funds for secular purposes, instances of appointment of non-Hindus as Members of Temple Management Boards and as employees of Hindu temples etc. It would be pertinent to ask as to how can a secular Government take over the control and management of religious places and that too of Hindusonly?

It may have been perfectly legal and understandable had India been a Hindu Rashtra. Since the Constitution ordains India to be secular, the State Government can either take over religious places of all religions or of none. It can NOT pick and choose to take over only Hindu temples, which is not only discriminatory to Hindus but Anti-Secular too. A Constitutional Amendment is needed to prevent States from taking over Hindu temples, and accordingly the same has been addressed in Point No. 1 as above.

There is also a need for a degree of uniformity about broader principles of management of temples by Hindu society without interfering with local traditions of worship in individual temples. This requires the enactment of a Central Law by repealing all State laws providing for a basic framework of inclusive temple management of Temples by Committees/Boards consisting of representatives of devotees and pujaris; and all Temples linked to District, State and National Hindu Dharma Sabhas. The State Hindu Dharma Sabhasmay be empowered to make Regulations under the said proposed Act to accommodate the local and special requirements. Govts should be explicitly prohibited from having any role in the management of Temples, Endowments, and their properties.

Accordingly, we request the Central Government to immediatelyenact“The Hindu Temple and Religious Endowments Act” by superseding all State laws, under powers by item No. 28 of Concurrent List of 7th Schedule (Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious endowments, and religious institutions).