Bengaluru: HC seeks explanation on temple funds diversion to CM's relief fund


Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 25: The state high court has sought clarification from the state government about its decision to transfer about Rs 12.38 crore from different muzrai temples to the chief minister's relief fund. It wants to know why temples alone have been selected for parting with their funds, excluding worship centres of other religions. Observing that prima facie this is not the right initiative, it has desired to know the basis on which the amount was fixed for individual temples.

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Justice S G Pandith, which heard a public interest litigation filed by Prema Naidu from Kalyanagara and Dr V R Sampath from Sarakki here, adjourned the hearing to Wednesday September 26 before directing the public prosecutor to provide an explanation about the basis on which this order was issued.

"Why did you choose temples alone and excluded prayer centres of other religions? Again, how did you choose only 81 temples? How was the amount to be paid by individual temples decided? On the face of it, this does not seem to be a proper initiative," the court said in its oral observations. It noted that the order has two parts, one of which is open special counters in temples to collect financial assistance to the flood-affected people. This, it said, may be acceptable to all. The second part refers to the transfer of donation amount to the relief fund. Observing that this is a tricky issue which might not be acceptable to one and all, it said this might create further problems and many questions might crop up out of this step.

The Chief Justice also wanted to know on the basis of which law the order to transfer funds has been issued.

Earlier, advocate for the petitioners said that the government has ordered 81 notified temples under muzrai department to transfer Rs 12.3 crore to the chief minister's relief fund as per the order dated August 21, 2018. He argued that this is an illegal action based on unilateral decision, duly claiming that this has hurt the sentiments of devotees of these temples.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ajay, Kallianpur

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    According to the figures released from 2002 for Karnataka. Money collected = 72 crores total number of temples = 2,50,000. This amounts to rs 3000 per temple per year. If you take into account the money spent by the govt on providing services, infrastructure and security, on the whole the govt spends far more than it gets. One must consider that only a handful of the 2,50,000 temples can be considered as economically "profit making" while the vast majority have to be maintained by the govt.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • GURU, Mangalore - Mumbai

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    So better let GOVT handover temple back to temple management.............right Mr. Pinto

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    There should be a law that religious places can collect money by cheque only. Otherwise money laundering will occur in name of God. People are fools ,they should realize that God does not need money.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rampanna, UDUPI

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    @Monty Dotor, Mangalore,

    The concept of God itself is a fools paradise.

    So, where is the question of anyone logically "realizing that God does not need money"?

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rao, Udupi

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Govt should stop interfering in religious institutions and should be away from it.

    They should stop doing the business of running religious institutions.

    They need this to show their power, enjoy priorities, enjoy and loot money.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Gulum fund...😈

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mark Dcruz, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Question: Why did you choose temples alone and excluded prayer centres of other religions? Again, how did you choose only 81 temples?
    Answer:Because Christian and Muslims do not pour money to the Gods in millions.
    Yes , we do that for the maintenance of Church.
    There is no money in Churches.

    DisAgree [25] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajay, Kallianpur

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Your answer is wrong. Only temples are maintained by the govt because there are tens of thousands of temples and only a handful get enough money as donations to run them and the rest are run by the govt. Other religious places of worship have to manage on their own.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agoli Manjanna, Bappanaad

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Agreed.. 100% correct.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agoli Manjanna, Bappanaad

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    Agreed.. 100% correct @ Mark Dcruz, Mangalore, not for Ajay.

    @ Ajay, your statement is totally wrong. Govt only takeover income generating temples under endowment act and same is managed by the govt using temple fund, and Govt not ready to take tens of thousands of non income temples and these temples are run by its own private management with out Govt fund.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 25 2018

    There is no free lunch. Where did Franco get money from? Also why was a person murdered at Mukkacheery.I just want to say no religion is except. Black money fosters black deeds!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Bengaluru: HC seeks explanation on temple funds diversion to CM's relief fund



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