Overview

• The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes a 5%–10% revenue levy on high-income temples to support smaller temples and low-income priests.
• Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot forwarded the bill to President Droupadi Murmu, citing unresolved constitutional issues and ongoing Supreme Court review under Articles 14 and 26.
• The bill, passed by both houses of the state legislature, had been pending gubernatorial assent since March 2025 and was resubmitted with clarifications on May 16.
• Funds collected under the proposed law would be used for temple maintenance, priest welfare, insurance schemes, and scholarships for priests’ children.
• The opposition BJP has criticized the bill as discriminatory, accusing the Congress-led government of targeting Hindu temples while exempting other religious institutions.