Presentation temple autonomy

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Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions & Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions & Charitable Endowments Act, 1997: Charitable Endowments Act, 1997: INFIRMITIESINFIRMITIES

| Kiran (BS) Bettadapur, Advocate || Kiran (BS) Bettadapur, Advocate |

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12) Śri. Mylāra Lingeśwara Temple12) Śri. Mylāra Lingeśwara Temple

1,000+ years old1,000+ years old

Mylāra, BellaryMylāra, Bellary

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12) Śri. Mylāra Lingeśwara Temple12) Śri. Mylāra Lingeśwara Temple

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11) Śri. Ghāṭi Subramanya Temple11) Śri. Ghāṭi Subramanya Temple

600+ years old600+ years old Bengaluru RuralBengaluru Rural DrāvidianDrāvidian

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11) Śri. Ghāṭi Subramanya Temple11) Śri. Ghāṭi Subramanya Temple

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10) Śri. Banaśankari Temple10) Śri. Banaśankari Temple

100+ years old100+ years old BengaluruBengaluru

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Near Badāmi, Near Badāmi, BagalkotBagalkot

630 AD630 AD

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9) Śri. Siddalingeśwara Swamy Temple9) Śri. Siddalingeśwara Swamy Temple

500+ years old500+ years old VijayanagarVijayanagar Yeḍiyur, TumkuruYeḍiyur, Tumkuru

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9) Śri. Siddalingeśwara Swamy Temple9) Śri. Siddalingeśwara Swamy Temple

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8) Śri. Huligemma Devi Temple8) Śri. Huligemma Devi Temple

1313thth Century Century Huligi, KoppalHuligi, Koppal

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8) Śri. Huligemma Devi Temple8) Śri. Huligemma Devi Temple

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7) Śri. Renuka Yellamma Temple7) Śri. Renuka Yellamma Temple

1514 AD1514 AD Saundatti, BelagaviSaundatti, Belagavi Chalukya + Raśṭrakuta Chalukya + Raśṭrakuta

StylesStyles

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7) Śri. Renuka Yellamma Temple7) Śri. Renuka Yellamma Temple

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6) Śri. Durga Parameśwari Temple6) Śri. Durga Parameśwari Temple

≈ ≈ 1,000 years old1,000 years old Kaṭeela, D. KannaḍaKaṭeela, D. Kannaḍa Kerala Style (Kerala Style (ŚŚri Kovil)ri Kovil)

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5) Śri. Śrikanṭeśwara Temple5) Śri. Śrikanṭeśwara Temple

99thth Century AD Century AD Nanjanguḍu, MysuruNanjanguḍu, Mysuru Ḍrāviḍian (Gangas) Ḍrāviḍian (Gangas)

StyleStyle

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4) Śri. Chamunḍeśwari Temple4) Śri. Chamunḍeśwari Temple

1212thth Century AD Century AD MysuruMysuru Ḍrāviḍian (Gangas & Ḍrāviḍian (Gangas &

Hoysaḷas) StyleHoysaḷas) Style

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4) Śri. Chamunḍeśwari Temple4) Śri. Chamunḍeśwari Temple

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3) Śri. Mookāmbika Temple3) Śri. Mookāmbika Temple

1200+ years old1200+ years old Kollur, Uḍupi Kollur, Uḍupi Ḍrāviḍian (Kelaḍi Ḍrāviḍian (Kelaḍi

period) Styleperiod) Style

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2) Śri. Malē Madeśwara Temple2) Śri. Malē Madeśwara Temple

600+ years old600+ years old MM Hills, MM Hills,

ChāmarājanagarChāmarājanagar Ḍrāviḍian StyleḌrāviḍian Style

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2) Śri. Malē Madeśwara Temple2) Śri. Malē Madeśwara Temple

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1) Śri. Kukke Subramaṇya Temple1) Śri. Kukke Subramaṇya Temple

88thth Century Century Kukke, D. KannaḍaKukke, D. Kannaḍa Kerala StyleKerala Style

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1) Śri. Kukke Subramaṇya Temple1) Śri. Kukke Subramaṇya Temple

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In a Nutshell...In a Nutshell...

Top 12 temples: Top 12 temples: ≈ 200 crores p.a.≈ 200 crores p.a.

Known’sKnown’s:: Bad maintenanceBad maintenance Unplanned additions Unplanned additions Poor infrastructurePoor infrastructure Ad hocAd hoc facilities facilities Unaesthetic Unaesthetic

structuresstructures Shoddy workShoddy work Cheap materialsCheap materials Wasteful SpendWasteful Spend

Unknown’sUnknown’s: : Corruption; Corruption;

Kickbacks??Kickbacks?? Embezzlement; Embezzlement;

Misappropriation??Misappropriation?? Theft; Skimming; Theft; Skimming;

Pilferage??Pilferage?? Encroachment; Encroachment;

Fraudulent Asset Fraudulent Asset Transfers??Transfers??

Nepotism??Nepotism??

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The EnactmentThe Enactment

Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions & Charitable Endowments, 1997& Charitable Endowments, 1997

History:History: 1863: Religious 1863: Religious

Endowments ActEndowments Act 1890: Charitable 1890: Charitable

Endowments ActEndowments Act 1920: Charitable & 1920: Charitable &

Religious Trusts ActReligious Trusts Act 1927: Mysore HRCE1927: Mysore HRCE Etc...Madras, Bombay, Etc...Madras, Bombay,

Hyderabad areasHyderabad areas

1957-20031957-2003 ≈10 Acts ≈10 Acts in Karnatakain Karnataka

1997: Consolidation 1997: Consolidation 2001: Pres. Assent2001: Pres. Assent 2003: Notification2003: Notification PurposePurpose::

Regulate & AdministerRegulate & Administer Eliminate Eliminate

mismanagementmismanagement

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Constitutional ValidityConstitutional Validity

INVALIDINVALIDŚri Sahasra Lingēśwara Temple Śri Sahasra Lingēśwara Temple

v.v.State of Karnataka State of Karnataka

(WA 3440/2005)(WA 3440/2005)

Violates Art. 14 Violates Art. 14 Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs

excludedexcluded Violates Arts. 26Violates Arts. 26

Right to administer Right to administer religious placesreligious places

Common Pool Fund:Common Pool Fund: 5% of Rev.5% of Rev. Excessive Excessive

HundiHundi Collections: Collections: To propagate Hindu faithTo propagate Hindu faith Not other religionsNot other religions Voluntary... OK!Voluntary... OK!

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S.20 & 21: Dharmik Parishats (DP)S.20 & 21: Dharmik Parishats (DP)

High Powered High Powered CommitteeCommittee Justice Rama Jois Justice Rama Jois

Rajya DP Rajya DP i.l.oi.l.o Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee Zilla Dharmik ParishatZilla Dharmik Parishat Min. 6 meeting p.a. Min. 6 meeting p.a.

Duties:Duties: Notify / De-notifyNotify / De-notify Administer & ControlAdminister & Control Resolve Disputes...Resolve Disputes...

35,000 temples35,000 temples 1 + 30 parishats 1 + 30 parishats

Nominated membersNominated members PluralPlural Sect, Caste, Sect, Caste,

Community Reps??Community Reps?? 1,000s per parishat1,000s per parishat 1/3 Quorum; Short 1/3 Quorum; Short

notices...6+ meetingsnotices...6+ meetings Regulation...YES!Regulation...YES! But, Admin, But, Admin,

Governance??Governance??

NOT POSSIBLE!!!NOT POSSIBLE!!!

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S.23: Notified TemplesS.23: Notified Temples

20122012 Notification Notification W.e.f. 1-5-2003... W.e.f. 1-5-2003...

Retroactive Retroactive District-wise; Taluk-wiseDistrict-wise; Taluk-wise About 34,000+ templesAbout 34,000+ temples

No adverse report... No adverse report... YET, NOTIFIEDYET, NOTIFIED Violates Art.25 & 26Violates Art.25 & 26― [― [Śri Śri

Sahasra Lingēśwara]Sahasra Lingēśwara] Revenues: Revenues:

Top 12 = Rs.200 cr.Top 12 = Rs.200 cr. MINMIN Rs. 5,000 Cr. Rs. 5,000 Cr.

Exit Policy??Exit Policy?? Śri Sabhanāyagar Śri Sabhanāyagar

Temple @Chidambaram Temple @Chidambaram [Podhu Dēkshitar [Podhu Dēkshitar rights]rights]

TakeoverTakeover To rectifyTo rectify... ... NOT administer NOT administer forever!!forever!!

SecularismSecularism = = Separation of State and Separation of State and Religion???Religion???

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S.42 & 43: Declared TemplesS.42 & 43: Declared Temples

In case of In case of Mismanagement... Mismanagement... ““Show Cause” NoticeShow Cause” Notice S.43(2)S.43(2) Reason for Reason for

Proposed Action...MUSTProposed Action...MUST Response Time: 1 Response Time: 1

month ...from date of month ...from date of issueissue

No objectionNo objection Declare Declare ObjectionObjection Enquiry... Enquiry...

DeclareDeclare

Lack of TransparencyLack of Transparency ArbitraryArbitrary PropertiesProperties Movables Movables

+ Immovables + Immovables RTI??RTI??

What circumstances / What circumstances / reasons = Why??reasons = Why??

Cite KIC Decision... Cite KIC Decision... Bombay HC @Goa Bombay HC @Goa

Judgment Judgment [WP419/2007; Dr. Celsa [WP419/2007; Dr. Celsa Pinto v. Goa State Info Pinto v. Goa State Info Comm.]Comm.]

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Rules 40A&B: Temple Development Rules 40A&B: Temple Development

Preservation & Preservation & DevelopmentDevelopment Competent Auth. Competent Auth.

ApprovalApproval >100 years = Ancient... >100 years = Ancient...

[Karnataka Ancient & [Karnataka Ancient & Historical Monuments and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites & Archeological Sites & Remains Act, 1961]Remains Act, 1961]

ASI + State Dept. of ASI + State Dept. of ArcheologyArcheology 768 temples 768 temples

Approval of Other Approval of Other Temples?? PWD, Local Temples?? PWD, Local Bodies, etc.Bodies, etc.

Compliance??Compliance?? Āgama Śāstra Āgama Śāstra Śilpa Śāstra Śilpa Śāstra Vāstu ŚāstraVāstu Śāstra Devālaya Vāstu Devālaya Vāstu

Śāstra Śāstra Sthaḷa; Tῑrtha; Sthaḷa; Tῑrtha;

MoorthyMoorthy Sthāpatya Vēda Sthāpatya Vēda

(Upavēda)(Upavēda)

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S.69D & R. 40C: Architectural CommitteeS.69D & R. 40C: Architectural Committee

5-Members5-Members For entire StateFor entire State Meets once in 3 monthsMeets once in 3 months

3 Experts3 Experts:: Āgama + Śilpa + VāstuĀgama + Śilpa + Vāstu For 35,000 temples??For 35,000 temples??

Many StylesMany Styles:: Hoysaḷa; Hoysaḷa; Badami & Western Badami & Western

ChalukyaChalukya VijayanagaraVijayanagara DraviḍianDraviḍian Badami Cave Badami Cave

TemplesTemples Rāśṭrakūta Rāśṭrakūta GangaGanga Kerala Kerala

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S.17: Common Pool FundS.17: Common Pool Fund

5% of Gross Revenue5% of Gross Revenue On Surplus (i.e., net of On Surplus (i.e., net of

expenses)... expenses)... NOT GrossNOT Gross Help for other Help for other

religionsreligions VoluntaryVoluntary...not ...not Imposed [Śri Sahasra Imposed [Śri Sahasra Lingēśwara]Lingēśwara]

Devotees Rights??Devotees Rights?? Offerings...to propagate Offerings...to propagate

/ preserve faith/ preserve faith

Deity’s Rights?? Deity’s Rights?? Deity = Juristic Deity = Juristic

EntityEntity Undervaluation? Undervaluation?

E.g., Antique sale E.g., Antique sale (or, gold deposit)(or, gold deposit)

Safeguarding Safeguarding property... property...

Interest protection Interest protection

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Tamil Nadu ExperienceTamil Nadu Experience

Varāha Varāha Lakśminarasimha Lakśminarasimha TempleTemple Rs.68+ cr. audit Rs.68+ cr. audit

objectionsobjections

Uncollected: Uncollected: 92% of land lease 92% of land lease

revenue (0.5 mil. acres)revenue (0.5 mil. acres) 91% of site rents (30 91% of site rents (30

mil. sq. yards)mil. sq. yards) 78% of building rents 78% of building rents

(22,600)(22,600) Recovered:Recovered:

Rs.36 cr.Rs.36 cr. ≈10%≈10% Rs.300 cr. billedRs.300 cr. billed Market Rate: Rs10K cr.Market Rate: Rs10K cr.

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Padmanābha Swāmi Temple, Padmanābha Swāmi Temple, ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram

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Ādikesava Perumāl Temple, ThiruvaṭṭarĀdikesava Perumāl Temple, Thiruvaṭṭar

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The 10 '-ties'The 10 '-ties'

TEMPLESTEMPLES

1) Aesthetic 1) Aesthetic BEAUTYBEAUTY2) Architectural2) Architectural PURITYPURITY3) Structural 3) Structural INTEGRITYINTEGRITY4) Material 4) Material QUALITYQUALITY

5) Spiritual5) Spiritual SANCTITYSANCTITY6) Ritualistic 6) Ritualistic PROPRIETYPROPRIETY7) Administrative7) Administrative PROBITYPROBITY8) Socio-cultural8) Socio-cultural ACTIVITYACTIVITY

9. Religious 9. Religious LIBERTYLIBERTY10.Constitutional10.Constitutional EQUALITYEQUALITY

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Last WordLast Word

:: TEMPLES :::: TEMPLES ::

:: My Religion :: My Rituals :: My Right :::: My Religion :: My Rituals :: My Right ::

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Thank You!Thank You!