India News | Lawyer Seeks Urgent Hearing in SC on PIL Seeking Uniform Code for Religious, Charitable Endowments

New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) Urgent hearing has been sought from the Supreme Court on a PIL which alleged government control of around four lakh Hindu temples, unlike mosques and churches, and sought a direction to the Centre to frame Uniform Code for Religious and Charitable Endowments to ensure right to equality among followers of all religions.

The PIL, which was filed in July by lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, was mentioned for urgent listing before the apex court registrar on Thursday and it's likely to be put up before a bench next week.

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The petition, filed through lawyer Ashwani Kumar Dubey, contended that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs should have similar rights to establish, manage and maintain their religious places like Muslims, Parsis and Christians, and the State cannot abridge this right.

“It is submitted that the right to manage institutions conferred under Articles 26 is a natural right for all communities. But Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs have been denied this privilege,” it said.

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The PIL stated that there are approximately four lakh temples, out of nine Lakh temples across the country, which are under government control.

There is not a single Church or Mosque related religious body where any control or interference of government is seen, it said, added that as far as tax paying or endowments is concerned there is no payment of tax from Churches and Mosques in the country.

"And due to the same reasons mentioned there is a need to change the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) Act, 1951 and other similar acts enacted by the States from time to time.

"This Act gives the government permission to control the temples as well the properties of the temples. There is almost 13 to 18 per cent of the service charge levied over the temples. There are almost 15 States in our nation which take control over the Hindu religious institutions. When the service charges are implemented over temples, it basically takes away the community rights as well as resources that are protecting its interests," the plea said.

The petition said that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs have similar rights to acquire and administer movable-immovable properties of their religious places like Muslims and Christians and the state cannot abridge that.

All the Laws made to acquire and administer movable-immovable properties of temples-gurudwaras are arbitrary, irrational and offend Articles 14, 15, 26. Hence, void and inoperative, the petition stated.

"If necessary, the Court may direct the Centre or Law Commission of India to draft a 'Common Charter for Religious and Charitable Institutions' and 'Uniform Code for Religious and Charitable Endowments'," the plea said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)