‘Not DMs but priests to auction temple land in MP’: Shivraj govt announces Brahmin Control Board

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a big announcement on Saturday, in regard to Hindu temples & priests, which many see as a precursor to ‘freeing the temples from government control.’

Shivraj Chouhan declared that a Brahmin Control Board will be set up in the state, which will take crucial decisions in the interest of priests & also help them empower financially & socially. The Chief Minister made the announcement in presence of Bageshwar Dham’s head priest Dharmendra Shastri.

Chief Minister made the announcement at a program organized in Bhopal’s Gufa Mandir premises, to celebrate the Lord Parshuram Jayanti.

भगवान श्री परशुराम जन्मोत्सव के पावन पर्व पर गुफा मंदिर प्रांगण, भोपाल में आयोजित ‘अक्षयोत्सव 2023’https://t.co/xtkjvhutvo

— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) April 22, 2023

Priests to replace collectors in temple land sale

In one of the biggest change from the existing rules, the Chief Minister announced that whenever any auction of the temple land happens, the temple priest will be the deciding authority & not the District Collector. This implies that priest’s decision will have supreme authority in regard to land sale/purchase or auction.

He said that the ‘ownership’ of temple land should lay in the hands of priests and there should be no interference from the government in auctioning or selling them.

“Govt will not auction the temple land. Such land will only be auctioned by the priests. A committee will be formed to suggest that the temple land should not be sold,” CM said.

CM Shivraj Chouhan also announced honorarium of Rs 5,000 per month to priests of temple, who don’t own a piece of land.