The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): In a jolt to the Congress government in Karnataka, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has refused to sign the controversial Temple Tax Bill. The Governor has asked the state government whether it has conceptualized any legislation to encompass other religious bodies in a similar fashion as the proposed bill.
In an order issued on Thursday, Governor Gehlot raised concerns about the bill’s potential discriminatory nature. The bill mandates the state to collect a 10% tax from temples generating revenue exceeding Rs 1 crore and a 5% tax from shrines with revenue between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.
“It is also perused that the Karnataka Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997 and amendments made in the year 2011 and 2012 have been struck down by the Hon’ble High Court Dharwad Bench in WA No 3440/2005,” read the governor’s order.
The governor’s order further stated that while the state government has challenged the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court, and the Apex Court has stayed the High Court order, the case is still in the stage of final hearing.
“Since the case is still pending in the Supreme Court, it is necessary to get more clarification on whether the amendment can be made during the pendency of the case, specifically when the entire Act has already been struck down by the High Court & and case in appeal is at the stage of final hearing,” the order said.
The governor has directed the state government to re-submit the file with clarifications, questioning, “Further, has the state government conceptualized any legislation to encompass other religious bodies in a similar fashion as this Bill?”
Earlier, the Congress government could not pass the bill in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly due to a lack of strength in the State’s Council. The opposition had expressed strong displeasure against the Religious Endowment Amendment Bill.
The governor’s refusal to sign the Temple Tax Bill and his demand for parity across religious institutions have created a roadblock for the Congress government’s proposed legislation. The move has reignited debates about the fairness and inclusivity of such laws, with the governor seeking assurances from the state government to ensure a non-discriminatory approach.