TempleSecurity – Karnataka Tightens Temple Oversight With New Donation Safety Measures
TempleSecurity – Karnataka has introduced a detailed framework to improve security, transparency, and financial accountability in temples managed by the Religious Endowments (Muzrai) Department following concerns raised by reports of alleged financial irregularities involving donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
The Karnataka government has rolled out a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for temples under the Muzrai Department, focusing on better protection of donation collections, stronger surveillance systems, and improved financial monitoring. The move comes after reports of alleged financial fraud and misuse of temple donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple prompted several states to review safeguards for religious institutions.
Enhanced Surveillance Planned Across Temples
According to the newly issued guidelines, temple administrations must install donation boxes, commonly known as hundis, only in secure and clearly visible locations. Every hundi will be monitored through CCTV web cameras positioned from four different angles to ensure complete visual coverage.
The recorded footage will be securely stored on dedicated servers, while officials in the offices of Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers will have access to monitor the surveillance systems. The government has also proposed establishing a central monitoring server at the headquarters of the Religious Endowments Department, allowing authorities to oversee CCTV feeds from multiple temples across the state. In addition, the live camera feeds are expected to be connected with Deputy Commissioners’ offices and nearby police stations for greater oversight.
New Measures Aim to Prevent Security Breaches
The circular highlights several security challenges identified in recent years. Authorities noted that CCTV cameras and digital video recorders installed in some temples had either been stolen, intentionally damaged, or rendered unusable.
In certain cases, camera lenses were reportedly blocked by smoke and soot generated from burning camphor, creating blind spots that could facilitate theft or unauthorized activities. The upgraded surveillance system is intended to eliminate such vulnerabilities and ensure continuous monitoring of sensitive areas within temple premises.
Digital Payments to Become a Key Part of Temple Services
The government has also directed temples to encourage cashless transactions to reduce risks associated with handling large amounts of cash, particularly during busy festivals and peak visitor hours.
Devotees will be able to make donations as well as pay for prasada, seva tickets, and other temple-related services using digital payment methods such as UPI, BHIM, QR codes, and other approved platforms.
To strengthen payment security, QR codes must be placed only near authorized donation boxes and should display complete bank account details, including the IFSC code. Temple authorities have also been instructed to carry out regular inspections to ensure that official QR codes have not been replaced or covered with fraudulent ones by miscreants attempting to divert donations.
Stricter Rules for Hundi Collection and Counting
The revised guidelines introduce tighter controls over the collection and counting of temple donations. Revenue Department officials will now be required to participate in the hundi opening and counting process as a mandatory measure to improve transparency.
Temple administrations have also been instructed to prepare a fixed schedule for hundi counting and display the dates on an official calendar in advance.
For temples receiving substantial donations, hundi counting should be conducted every week. Temples with comparatively moderate collections have been advised to carry out the exercise once every two weeks. In every case, the counting process must take place under the supervision of the jurisdictional Tahsildar to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
The government believes that the combination of stronger surveillance, wider adoption of digital payments, and stricter oversight during donation counting will help enhance public confidence while improving the overall management of temples under the Muzrai Department.