Temple Wealth Belongs to the Deity, Not the Government: Himachal High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued strict guidelines on the management of temples and the usage of donated funds under the Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984. The court emphasized that temple funds are the property of the deity, not the government.

The bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthla, while hearing the case of Kashmir Chand vs. State of Himachal Pradesh, stated that any misuse of temple funds by a trust would be treated as a criminal superstition and the misused amount would be recoverable from the guilty party.

The court directed that temples must display their monthly income, project details, audit summaries either on a notice board or website to promote transparency and reinforce devotees' trust.

Trustees are only custodians, not owners. Donations made by devotees must be used strictly for religious purposes. The court provided a list of 31 approved purposes for which temple funds may be used, including educational outreach, rituals, social reform, infrastructure development, and the welfare of pilgrims.

The court also emphasized that temples have historically been centers of education, art, and social welfare and must continue to function in accordance with the core principles of Hinduism, promoting equality and non-discrimination.