Winter Session 2024: 3 bills await assent of Karnataka Governor

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot 
| Photo Credit: File photo

Three bills are pending in the office of the Governor of Karnataka. They are the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions Charitable Endowments Bill, 2024, The Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, and The Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Amendment), 2024.

Earlier in August, the Congress government had accused the Governor of withholding bills that had been passed by the State legislature. The Governor had returned 11 bills.

Questioned in court

Sources said that the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions Charitable Endowments Bill, 2024, which had been opposed by BJP and rejected in the Council once, had been sent back by the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking clarifications. He had pointed out that the Act itself had been questioned in court.

The bill pertains to the government taking 10% from temples that have income of over ₹1 crore annually, and utilising the money to take up welfare measures for priests and also fund temples with a meagre income. The other two pertain to the appointment of a political advisor to the chief minister, and the second amendment bill is to replace the other bill that has been passed in the legislature, sources said.

Clarification sought

The Governor has returned The Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2024, The Karnataka Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2024, The Karnataka Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and Gadag-Betageri Business, Culture and Exhibition Authority Bill, 2023, and Ordinance, 2024, seeking clarifications. Sources said that the four bills have been sent to the respective departments to provide the clarifications.

Government sources said that as many as eight bills are currently pending in the legislative Assembly, including The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, that was referred to a joint select committee in July 2024.