Some say a chance at transparency has been wasted

The Bill tabled in the Belagavi legislature session, aimed at empowering the State to take over “mismanaged” religious math, appears set for a burial given the pressure from heads of powerful religious maths, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and many from within the Congress. However, a section of people argue that a move aimed at introducing transparency has been nipped in the bud.

Well-known Dalit writer and social activist Devanur Mahadeva said that such a Bill “would have done religious institutions good by making them open institutions” and should have been welcomed by their heads. “The politics around it is unfortunate,” he added.

“Any institution that gets grants, land, permits or any other government support should be open for scrutiny,” argued Amrit Rao Chimkod, a backward classes leader from north Karnataka.

“Temples have always been bound by legal provisions and the amendment only seeks to treat maths in the same way,” said Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra.

Khaji Arshed Ali, Urdu writer and former MLC countered the perception that the government was gunning particularly for Hindu institutions.

“It is wrong to assume that Muslim institutions are out of the government’s control. The Wakf Act has provisions to control masjids, dargahs, Ashur Khanas, idgahs, Sarais and other religious institutions. Governments have changed management committees and unseated presidents of such institutions in the past,” he said.

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee Act supervises gurudwaras and other Sikh religious institutions, he added.

‘Undue haste’

Veerabhadrachannamalla Mahaswamy of Nidumamidi Math argued that while “no institution can be above law”, the government too has to take the blame for the furore over the Bill. “The government tabled the Bill in undue haste and started talking about withdrawing it almost immediately, following criticism. Is this any way for a government to show responsibility and commitment,” he asked, and added that tabling the Bill should have been preceded by consultations to allay fears. He said that similar haste had stymied a “progressive” legislation to curb superstitious practices.