Karnataka: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai introduced the Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill, 2021, in the state Assembly on Monday, with the goal of safeguarding religious structures that have been built unlawfully in public spaces. This comes after the recent demolition of a temple at Nanjangud in Mysuru, which sparked widespread outrage.
The BJP-led state government said in the statement, “It is considered necessary to provide for protection of religious constructions in a public place constructed before the date of commencement of this Act in order to protect communal harmony and not to hurt the religious sentiments of the public. Further, to restrict unauthorised religious structures and constructions in public places in future.”
The Bill also instructs authorities not to construct any religious structure in public locations in the future. The Bill states that religious activity in such protected structures “is subject to custom, law, usage and other conditions as may be laid down by the state government from time to time”.
The government further stated that “no suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings will lie against it or any of its officers or employees for anything, which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or rules made there under”.