Karnataka: Debate over Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Bill 2024 [Read Bill]

Bengaluru, Karnataka:  The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment bill in the Assembly. The bill empowers the government to collect 10 per cent tax from temples that have revenues exceeding ₹1 crore and 5 per cent from those with revenues ranging between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore.

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The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticise the amendments and termed it 'anti-Hindu'.

"The Congress government, which is adopting consistently anti-Hindu policies in the state, has now taken a crooked look at the revenue of Hindu temples and passed the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments bill to fill its empty coffers," Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa said on a social media platform.

Here's what the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 says: [Read Bill] 

- Mandates that the govt will collect 10% of income of temples that have revenue of more than Rs 1 crore
- Section 19(a): Common Pool Fund money can be utilised to religious institution which is in  poor and needy circumstances

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CM's statement:

"The recent amendment was made solely to enhance the amount of the common pool. The common pool is administered solely for religious purposes connected with the Hindu religion. The Common Pool Fund has been utilized only for the religious purposes of Hindu institutions since the Act came into force in 2003, and it will continue to be used for the same purposes in the future. It has not been utilized for any other purposes or for the benefit of followers of other religions," CM Siddaramaiah wrote on social media.