Religious Structures Bill

Subject – Governance

Context – Karnataka Assembly passes Religious Structures bill to protect unauthorised temples in public places

Concept –

The Karnataka Assembly on Tuesday passed the Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill, a day after introducing it.
Purpose: “protection of religious constructions on a public place constructed before the date of commencement of this Act, in order to protect communal harmony and not hurt the religious sentiments of the public.”
The bill defines “religious structure” as a “temple, church, mosque, gurudwara, Bodh vihar, Majaretc, constructed on a public place without authority of law”.
The law says that “no religious structure and construction shall be allowed by the state government or any local authority in future on a public place”.
A Supreme Court order of September 29, 2009, in a Union of India vs State of Gujarat case, said that “no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara etc. on public streets, public parks or other public places.”