The New Indian Express ·
Karnataka HC issues tech-enabled guidelines to manage temples finance, offerings & services
BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court issued a series of directions to the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department, to be implemented at all the temples with the object of ensuring that the money, offerings and properties of every temple are fully accounted for and protected, and that theft or misappropriation is prevented at the source.
According to the guidelines to be implemented with the assistance of the Principal Secretary, e-Governance Department, electronic payment facilities shall, as far as practicable, be made available for all payments including Hundi offerings, Kanike, Archana, Seva tickets, accommodation charges, vehicle parking, donations, sale of Prasada, sale of publications and every other amount payable to the institution. Digital kiosks and self-service payment terminals may also be installed at appropriate locations to facilitate contactless payments.
The guidelines also require each receipt to carry a printed QR code, which a devotee may scan or use to verify with the central server that the receipt is genuine and unique, so the devotee can detect a duplicate or fabricated receipt at the counter itself.
