Can government take money from temples?

Therefore, the government cannot take the temples’ income, or put that money to its own use. The court even said that this money could not go to any government agency and could not be used for non-religious purposes. That said, malpractice and mismanagement of funds can happen in HR&CE Departments.

What really happens to your money in temple hundi?

As per this law, all the revenues generated by the temple (including Hundi funds) will go to the Govt (not the temple priests/heads) and it is the prerogative of the Govt to decide how much of this revenue will be returned to the temples for their maintenance.

Why are temples controlled by government?

In 1925, temples were becoming the hubs of organizing freedom movements, so the Madras Religious and Charitable Endowments Act was brought in, to bring them under government control. The Tamil Nadu temples are under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department.

Are temples govt property?

The Supreme Court has held that all temple property is owned by the deity as a legal person and the name of the pujari or even the government officials in charge of managing the temple cannot be put in the property ownership papers in the revenue records.

Is Tirupati temple under government?

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is an independent trust which manages the temples including the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. The trust oversees the operations and finances of the second richest and the most visited religious center in the world.

Is Somnath temple under government control?

Many readers would know that the Somnath Temple in Gujarat is administered by a trust with equal representation in the board from the Gujarat state government and the government of India.

Does Indian government take money from temples?

“Our (Hindu) places (temples and shrines) remain under the government control with the district collector as chairman (of temple committees). The money (donated to) Hindu temples, including the big ones, is going to minorities.

Who owns Tirupati temple?

Temple administration Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is the trust board which oversees and manages the operations of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. It is operated by a Board of Trustees that has increased in size from five (1951) to eighteen (2015) through the adoption of Acts.

Are churches under government control?

How many people know that while Hindu temples are under governmental control, mosques and churches are completely autonomous? Interestingly, none of this applies to mosques, churches or gurudwaras. The government has no legal authority to take over the management of a non-Hindu place of worship.

Does government take money from TTD?

The fund from the TTD will be used by the Endowments department to develop and renovate temples in the state, maintain Aagama and Veda Paatashalas and Dhupa Dheepa Naivedyam schemes.

Who protected Somnath temple?

Mahmud Ghazni
In 1026, Mahmud Ghazni lent the precious jewels and property of Somnath temple. After looting, slaughtering innumerable pilgrims of the temple and burning the temple and destroying it.

Who reconstructed Somnath temple?

Nagabhatta II is best known for rebuilding the Somnath Temple in 815 AD, which was destroyed by Arab invaders in 725AD.

What happens to the hundi funds of temples in Karnataka?

As per this law, all the revenues generated by the temple (including Hundi funds) will go to the Govt (not the temple priests/heads) and it is the prerogative of the Govt to decide how much of this revenue will be returned to the temples for their maintenance. Here is one such act implemented in Karnataka in 1997 superseding all the previous acts.

Should the Hindu community manage their own temples?

It is time the Hindu community is allowed to manage their own temples once again – the devotees’ donations should be used for social benefit instead of sitting in a government treasury. Until the British came to India, temples were managed by local communities.

Why should the government give money to Hindu temples?

One, it is only for Hindu temples that the government wishes to ensure proper administration and its income used for ‘correct’ purposes. Two, contributions made to Hindu temples is used by the commissioner uses to fund various government programmes.

How did the Hindu Religious Endowment Board take over temples?

But a radical change was introduced in the legislation by way of Act XII of 1935, through which temples could be notified by the government and their administration taken over. This way the Hindu Religious Endowment Board assumed powers to take over and administer temples. The board consisted of three to five members.