Odisha Moves to Update 1951 Endowments Act, Focus on Better Temple Management

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is working on a comprehensive update of the legal framework governing religious institutions in the state, with amendments proposed to the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1951.

The move is aimed at strengthening the administrative structure and financial management of temples, maths and other religious institutions under the Endowment Department and bringing the decades-old legislation in line with contemporary requirements.

Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday to review the proposed amendments and discuss various aspects of the existing law.

Officials examined provisions and sub-sections of the Act that have become outdated and discussed changes required to address emerging administrative challenges. The meeting also considered ways to make the functioning of the Endowment Department more effective and responsive.

A key area of discussion was the powers and responsibilities of the Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and authorised officers of the department. The proposed reforms also include measures for cadre restructuring and creation of additional posts to strengthen the department’s administrative capacity.

After the meeting, Minister Harichandan said the proposed amendments would help establish a more robust system for the administrative and financial management of religious institutions.

He said the government intends to create a legal framework that is better suited to the present needs of temples, maths and other institutions while improving the effectiveness of the Endowment Department.

The department manages a large number of religious institutions across Odisha, including several historic temples and maths. Many of these institutions have significant religious, cultural and heritage value, making effective administration and financial management an important priority.

The proposed changes will be examined further before the amendment process is taken forward.

Law Commissioner Justice Biswanath Rath, Law Department Principal Secretary Pabitra Mohan Samal, Endowment Commissioner Satya Narayan Sarangi, Special Secretary Pranab Kumar Patra, Additional Secretary Shiva Prasad Mahapatra and Additional Government Advocate Manmaya Kumar Das, among others, attended the meeting.