Bihar: Govt orders Hindu temples to register themselves and pay 4% tax

The resolution of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trust (BSBRT) to run a particular drive for the registration of temples, that aren’t personal in nature, and levy a tax of 4 per cent on the entire revenue, has invited sharp response from devotees.
The temples constructed by personal people on personal land that are open for frequent persons are additionally included on this order. All such temples must be registered with BSBRT which has began a particular drive for the identification and registration of such temples. BSBRT has requested collectors of all districts of Bihar to determine all such temples which aren’t registered.
BSBRT has been amassing taxes from temples from 1950 onwards however controversy erupted afresh after smaller and personal temples had been included within the tax ambit.
Member of BSBRT Mahant Vijay Shankar Giri mentioned that each one such personal temples the place are open for frequent folks will come below the purview of tax. BSBRT mentioned that it was a service cost, not a tax.
“But people are hardly aware that BSBRT had brought an amendment in 2006 to define the private temple and the public temple. At that time it was clarified that if a private temple is opened for darshan for all then it will no more be treated as a private temple. Earlier, the maximum tax on the total income of the temple excluding daily expenditure was 5%. But BSBRT has fixed a universal slab of 4%,” one of many members of the temple administration committee of a distinguished temple of Patna informed OpIndia.
Notably, BSBRT follows the Bihar Hindu Religious Trust Act 1950 the place there are provisions for tax on the revenue of the temple.
A former member of BSBRT confirmed about 2006 amendments. He mentioned that different standards of taxable temples are that they will need to have a drop-box for donation and search donation by way of coupons as effectively. “Amount collected from such temples are used for renovation of neglected temples. Temples registered with BSBRT has many benefits,” he justified.
So far there are round 4600 temples throughout Bihar which can be registered with BSBRT which at the moment are being run by belief or sevait (temple attendant). These temples have landed properties. For occasion, the Ram Janki Hanuman temple at Babubarhi in Madhubani has 125 acres of land below its possession.
But folks managing small temples in villages mentioned that each one these temples depend on donations from the general public. “Now the Nitish Kumar government wants small temples to pay taxes. Even to replace a fused bulb and to buy a broom we are dependent on donations,” mentioned Madan Kumar Jha Madhup, a resident of Darbhanga who’s related to the administration of 1 such temple.
People are indignant with the federal government for providing freebies to minorities and taxes for Hindus. They termed it as a type of Jizya tax imposed on Hindus.
“At most of these temples, priests offer their service for free. Call it a service charge but still, this is a tax,” Deepak Lohia one other Hindu devotee.
Land Reform minister offers explanations
As the choice has sparked protest, Bihar Land Reform and Revenue Minister Ramsurat Rai mentioned some folks had been attempting to create confusion. He mentioned that BSBRT, Law Department, and Land Revenue Department had held a gathering for the higher administration of non secular locations in Bihar.
“Temple management in Bihar is very poor and it has been seen that properties donated by our forefathers for temples are being sold by caretakers. So we want to strengthen the law to protect temples’ properties so that same is utilised for the maintenance of the temple,” the minister mentioned. He mentioned that no resolution was taken on the imposition of tax.
RJD MLA Alok Mehta supported a 4% tax and mentioned that cash needs to be utilised for the general public welfare and improvement of Bihar. BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul however mentioned that previously additionally temples needed to pay taxes. “But we are now thinking on the proposal to exempt temples from taxes. Like government extends support to other religions, it should extend similar support to temples and the Kabir monastery,” he added.