Karnataka : 77,000 temples come under RTI

Bengaluru (Karnataka) : The state government’s decision to bring category B and C temples under the purview of the RTI and appoint information officers for the purpose, could change the way temples in the state are administered.

According to the heads of various temples, at present, the RTI is used to extract information about how poojas are performed, how the rituals are celebrated, the process of appointing priests, their qualification, income and expenditure.(Political parties received donations worth billions of rupees; out of which 80% donations are given out of black money. The Chief Information Commission set up by the Central Government had taken a decision that all political parties have to submit information asked under RTI Act. All political parties have come together against this decision and they are trying to keep political parties out of the purview of RTI Act; whereas anti-Hindu Congress Government is trying to bring donations offered by devotees in temples with faith under the purview of RTI Act. It is one more attack on Hindu Dharma !

An officer of the religious endowments department said that it was the state information commission that brought the temples under the ambit of the RTI. “But until now, only category A temples such as Kukke, Kateel, Savadatti Yella­mma etc has information officers. Henceforth, even category B and C temples, which were governed loca­lly, will have information officers,” he said. (Why is it not said that along with temples, even churches and mosques will be applied the same rule ? - Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)
According to a gazette notification issued by the department, temple adm­in­istrative heads will be the public information officers (PIOs). While opening temples to public scrutiny will be a good thing, it will have its own challenges. “Every temple has its own unique tradition and system.”
“Till now they were continued without any external obstruction and government intervention. Brin­ging temples under the ambit of the RTI may thr­ow up several challenges,” said a source familiar with temple managements.
“At present, RTI applications filed with A category temples are mostly about alleged irregularities. But category B and C temples have some unique features,” he said. There are also some doubts about whether designating officers of the administration itself to be PIOs will serve the purpose. (It is likely that any anti-Hindu or fanatic can misuse the information and trap temple management for extracting money. - Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)
“There are objections to making the admi­nistrative officials information officers as they may not give correct information. But temples are accountable to the public and this is the right step,” the source added