Ayodhya Temple Donation Theft Scam Reaches Himachal: Govt Tightens Security, But Pilgrims / devotees Demand Statewide Audit of Temple Trusts. Promote digital donations in all Temples in Himachal. But the Dhami government in Uttarakhand has yet to take call on management of donations in Char Dham even as a case of misappropriation of donation has come to light recently in Kedarnath.
SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: The misappropriation of devotees' offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya has triggered political and administrative ripples far beyond Uttar Pradesh, with the Himachal Pradesh government today issuing directive to safeguard temple donations and valuables across the state.
The move comes days after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Himachal Pradesh Congress stepped up attacks on the BJP over the alleged Ayodhya temple donation scandal, accusing the ruling party at the Centre of failing to protect devotees' offerings and demanding accountability.
While the state government's notification introduces strict security protocols, many devotees believe the moves are only the beginning and are now demanding a comprehensive audit of temple trusts, their finances and assets across Himachal Pradesh.
The detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), issued by Secretary (Language, Art and Culture) Rakesh Kanwar, acknowledge that the alleged theft and misappropriation of offerings in "a major temple of the country" have exposed serious vulnerabilities in the management of temple donations.
Without naming Ayodhya, the notification directs all government-managed temples in Himachal Pradesh to immediately strengthen security arrangements for cash, jewellery, gold, silver and other valuables.
Deputy Commissioners have also been asked to persuade independent temple management committees to adopt similar safeguards even if they are outside direct government control.
Donation Boxes Under Tight Security
Under the new protocol, every donation box must be tamper-proof, carry a unique identification number and operate through a dual-lock or multi-key system. Every repair or replacement will have to be documented.
Temple offerings can now be opened only by committees authorised by the District Magistrate. The counting process will take place in the presence of government officials, temple representatives, accountants and independent witnesses, with the entire exercise to be videographed and conducted under CCTV surveillance.
180-Day CCTV Storage, Strong Rooms and Digital Donations
The government has ordered installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras with voice recording and night vision covering sanctum areas, donation boxes, counting rooms and strong rooms. The footage must be preserved for at least 180 days, with cloud storage encouraged wherever feasible.
Cash collected from offerings must be deposited in the temple's official bank account within one working day. Digital donations through UPI, QR codes, POS machines and online banking are to be promoted so that transactions are directly credited into official accounts.
Separate registers and digital records will be maintained for cash, jewellery, valuables, foreign currency and donations in kind.
Quarterly physical verification of jewellery and valuables, annual government-nominated audits and surprise inspections have also been made mandatory.
Employees handling cash will undergo police verification, rotate periodically and will not be allowed to carry mobile phones or personal belongings into counting rooms.
Compliance Report in 30 Days
All government-managed temples have been directed to submit compliance reports within 30 days detailing existing security arrangements, CCTV coverage, inventory status, audit position and banking arrangements. The Director of Language and Culture has been designated as the state nodal officer for monitoring compliance.
Officials have warned that negligence or violation of the new directions could invite disciplinary and legal action.
Pilgrims Say SOPs Alone Are Not Enough
While welcoming the government's initiative, devotees and civil society groups argue that installing cameras and issuing guidelines will not address what they describe as a deeper problem of accountability.
Many are demanding an independent financial audit of temple trusts across Himachal Pradesh, including scrutiny of donations received over several years, utilisation of funds and verification of assets held by temple managements.
Several devotees questioned whether authorities would also investigate unexplained wealth allegedly accumulated by some trustees, priests and caretakers, claiming that public confidence can only be restored through transparent investigations.
The demand has gained momentum following recent incidents of alleged thefts from temples in different parts of the country, including the widely discussed Ayodhya case. In Himachal Pradesh too, isolated incidents of theft have been reported from temples, including the recent case at Hatkoti temple, where an accused was reportedly caught by pilgrims.
Demand for Transparent Use of Temple Funds
Devotees also want greater transparency in how offerings are utilised. They have suggested that audited accounts should be made public and donations should be used not only for temple maintenance but also for pilgrim amenities, sanitation, environmental protection, waste management and conservation around religious sites.
Many believe temples can become centres for sustainable development by investing in green initiatives, river conservation, afforestation and improved public facilities while preserving the faith of millions of devotees.
As the controversy over temple donations gathers political momentum, Himachal's new SOPs may strengthen security on paper. Whether they are followed in letter and spirit—and whether calls for wider financial scrutiny of temple trusts are acted upon—could determine whether the government's response restores public confidence or merely remains an administrative exercise.
