103 'A' grade temples in Karnataka without management committees!

Kota: As many as 103 ‘A’ grade temples under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department in Karnataka have been without a management committee since their term ended in October 2023. Despite inviting applications in November and conducting scrutiny, the announcement of the new committees has not been made even after nine months, hindering temple development activities.

There are 201 ‘A’ grade temples in the state, with 29 in Udupi and 44 in Dakshina Kannada. The terms for the committees of 20 temples in Udupi and 25 in Dakshina Kannada have ended. For three temples in Udupi, including Kollur Amruteshwari, and eleven temples in Dakshina Kannada, the scrutiny of applications has been completed in the first phase, while applications for the remaining temples have just been invited.

Development Stalled

The temples have been managed by administrative officers for the past one and a half years, handling only daily activities and special festival celebrations. However, major development projects and long-term planning have been stalled. The presence of a management committee is considered essential for making important decisions, especially during major festivals like Navaratri.

Political Tug of War?

There is fierce competition for positions on the management committees of ‘A’ grade temples, especially for the role of president. In many cases, hundreds of aspirants are vying for nine committee seats at each temple, and most have political backing. This has resulted in multiple candidate lists being sent to ministers, delaying the selection process.

Announcement Soon

The process for forming committees for ‘A’ grade temples, including Kollur, is nearly complete, and there are no significant issues. The announcement of the new committees is expected soon, said Ramalinga Reddy, Minister of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments.

-Translated version of Kannada article by Rajesh Ganiga Achlady