Temple wealth belongs to deity, not govt: Himachal HC bars usage of donations for non-religious purposes

October 15, 2025

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued strict guidelines on the management of temples, including the use of donations under the Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984. The court stated that temples must publicly display their monthly income, project details, audits, and summaries on notice boards or websites to instill confidence in devotees. If any trust has misused or caused the misuse of temple funds, the amount will be recovered from it.

Temple funds belong to the deity

In the case of Kashmir Chand v. State of Himachal Pradesh, a bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthala declared the misuse of temple funds as criminal superstition. The court clarified that temple funds belong to the deity, not the government.

The trustees are merely custodians. Devotees’ donations can only be used for religious purposes or religious purposes. The court issued a detailed list of 31 approved areas for the use of temple funds.

Temple funds should be used for educational promotion, rituals, social reforms, infrastructure, and pilgrim welfare. The court stated that temples have always been centers of education, art, and social welfare, and their work must be in accordance with the true principles of Hinduism, which include equal treatment of all people without discrimination.

Temple funds will not be used for the construction of roads, bridges, and public buildings.
The court has restricted the areas where temple funds cannot be used, ensuring that the funds are not treated like general state revenue. Temple funds will not be used for government welfare schemes or the construction of roads, bridges, and public buildings built by the state.

Investment in personal gain and private industries is prohibited. The court has also prohibited VIPs visiting the temple from purchasing gifts, mementos, chunri or prasad, cashews, and almonds. Donating funds to events of other religions or inter-religious social and political events is prohibited.

12 Himachal Temples Earned ₹361 Crore in 10 Years
According to a 2018 report filed by the Language and Culture Department, 12 temples earned ₹361 crore in 10 years. This data covers the period from 2008 to 2017. These temples include the Brajeshwari Temple in Kangra, the Shoolini Temple in Solan, the Hanogi Mata Temple in Mandi, the Mahamrityunjay Sadar in Mandi, the Thakurdwara Temple in Paonta, the Bhimakali Temple in Sarahan, the Hanuman Temple in Jakhu, the Tara Devi Temple in Shimla, the Sankat Mochan Temple in Shimla, the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh, the Jwalamukhi Temple, and the Ram Gopal Temple in Kangra.