A comprehensive state-wide survey in Karnataka has uncovered a startling discrepancy: thousands of temples officially on government records appear to be physically missing. The verification drive, initiated by the state's muzrai (religious endowments) department, found that 4,170 out of 34,566 notified temples across 237 taluks could not be traced on the ground.
District-Wide Discrepancies and Official Explanations
The district-wise breakdown of the missing shrines paints a clear picture of the scale of the issue. Belagavi district tops the list with 1,788 missing or unidentified temples, followed by Gadag (515), Raichur (275), Udupi (235), Yadgir (172), and Chamarajanagar (142). While the findings raise concerns, Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy attributed a significant part of the mismatch to administrative changes. He explained that the reclassification of district boundaries, which increased the number of districts from 20 to 31, led to discrepancies in survey numbers that are now being identified and rectified.
Aadhaar-Linked Payments Blow Lid Off Fraud
The survey, which began in 2020 and is ongoing, was primarily launched to create reliable data and streamline the system of paying tasdik (honorarium) to temple priests. However, the introduction of Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments exposed widespread irregularities. Officials discovered multiple cases of fraud, including:
- More than one priest drawing payments for a single temple.
- A single priest claiming honorarium for multiple temples.
"It was during this verification of beneficiaries we began to notice that several temples mentioned in records were not traceable at all," a department official revealed. This triggered a deeper physical verification to reconcile official records with ground realities.
Process for Verification and Asset Protection
The department is following a meticulous process to verify each temple's existence and its associated landholdings. Officials are cross-checking records against gazette notifications issued under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1997. For temples confirmed as missing, village accountants and revenue inspectors must submit detailed reports, certified by tahsildars, to the muzrai commissioner for further action.
In cases where temple land is found to be encroached upon, the department has committed to a lawful multi-step recovery process. "The department is committed to restoring temple properties wherever encroachments are established," stated Rajender Kataria, Vice-Chairman of the Dharmik Parishad. The process includes:
- Verification by the tahsildar.
- Preparation of a mahazar (spot inspection report).
- Eviction by the competent authority.
The ongoing survey is expected to serve a triple purpose: cleaning up decades-old records, preventing financial leakages in priest payments, and protecting valuable temple assets across Karnataka. Officials stated that around 20,000 properties have been clearly identified so far, with work pending on the remaining cases.
