Sir,

Now that the most magnificent and biggest among all the Sri Rama Temples in the world has been consecrated and thrown open to devotees, it is time Hindus in this country ensured that no temporal authority, the government, controlled and managed (as in some cases) the Hindu temples as it is happening now.

At present, a large number of Hindu temples are under State control. This is in clear violation of Article-14 of our ‘Secular’ Constitution which grants equality and protection under the laws for all religions. If so why discriminate against Hindu temples alone?

When this is the Constitutional position, it is seen that several States are not only controlling Hindu temples but also fully using the funds generated by these temples. The State Governments concerned also directly interfere in the spiritual and cultural practices of these temples thereby being obstructionist to the belief of Hindus and hurting their religious sentiments.

We have seen many panel discussions on this subject in TV channels since the past few years but the governments concerned do not seem to have taken the issue for resolution.

The BJP Government at the Centre (that allowed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to construct, maintain and manage the temple and its religious rituals as per Sanatana Dharma) should also review the present control by some State Governments over the management and ritual practices of Hindu temples.

To put an end to this discriminatory exercise of power by the State towards Hindu temples, the Central Government should legislate an appropriate law to liberate all Hindu temples from the shackles of government control, direct or indirect. This law should facilitate Hindu temples to manage their affairs independently through their own organisational setup.

– K.B. Ganapathy, Senior Journalist, Mysuru, 24.1.2024

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