The sacred & the State: How Indian courts have redrawn boundaries over use of temple funds

New Delhi: “Temple funds belong to the deity, not the State,” the Himachal Pradesh High Court said earlier this week, while reinforcing the need for transparency in temple administration.

In a landmark ruling, the high court drew a sharp line between the sacred and administrative powers. While acknowledging the state’s right to oversee administration of temples, the court made it clear that donations and revenues offered to Hindu temples are sacrosanct, meant for religious purposes alone, and not to be absorbed into the state’s welfare machinery.

The case arose from a petition filed to ensure compliance with the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984, a state law that governs the administration, finances, and property of temples across H