After Ayodhya theft row, HP issues SOP to safeguard temple offerings & valuables
Temples to open by Sept.10
Shimla, July 11
Taking a lesson from the recent alleged theft and misappropriation of devotees’ offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the Himachal Pradesh Government has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen security, transparency and accountability in the management of temple assets across the state.
The guidelines have been made applicable to all government-owned and managed temples, while Deputy Commissioners have been directed to ensure that similar safeguards are adopted by other temples managed through trusts and committees.
Issued by the Department of Language, Art and Culture, the SOP directs temple authorities to immediately review and strengthen mechanisms for safeguarding cash offerings, jewellery and other valuables.
It states that temple managements have a responsibility to protect the trust reposed by devotees and ensure that donations are handled with complete transparency and accountability.
Under the new protocol, all donation boxes (hundis) must be tamper-proof, securely fixed and provided with unique identification numbers. Their keys will remain under a dual-lock or multi-key system with proper custody records.
Donation boxes can be opened only on approved dates in the presence of a designated committee comprising temple officials, representatives of the district administration, accountants, temple management members and independent witnesses.
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The entire counting process would be videographed and carried out under CCTV surveillance in secure counting rooms.
The SOP also mandates installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras covering temple entrances and exits, sanctum surroundings, donation boxes, counting rooms, treasuries and jewellery storage areas.
CCTV footage would have to be preserved for a minimum of 180 days. Cash collected through offerings must be deposited in the designated bank account within one working day, while separate digital and physical records will be maintained for cash, gold and silver ornaments, valuable articles, foreign currency and donations in kind.
To improve financial discipline, the government has prescribed quarterly physical verification of valuables, annual audits and surprise inspections. Access to strong rooms will be restricted to authorised personnel under a double-lock system, while employees handling cash and valuables will undergo police verification.
Staff assigned to counting donations will also be rotated periodically to minimise risks. Devotees will be encouraged to make digital donations through UPI, QR codes, POS machines and online banking, with all digital contributions credited directly to official temple bank accounts.
The instructions further require immediate reporting of any theft, suspected fraud, tampering or other irregularities to the local police, Deputy Commissioner and the Department of Language, Art and Culture.
Temple management committees and executive officers have been made personally responsible for ensuring compliance, with disciplinary and legal action envisaged for negligence or violations.
All government-managed temples have been directed to submit a compliance report within 30 days detailing existing security arrangements, CCTV coverage, audit status, inventory of valuables and action taken to implement the new guidelines.
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