Temple land guidance on registration and patta transfer

What this document is

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, in Na.Ka. No. 31154/2010 dated 30.11.2021, issued administrative guidance about lands belonging to temples and related religious institutions. The guidance was sent to registration and revenue authorities and follows earlier communications dated 19.08.2021 and 20.11.2021.

What it governs

The guidance deals with how officials should handle:

• registration of documents relating to temple or religious institution land,
• requests connected with patta and revenue records,
• verification of whether a property belongs to a temple or religious institution,
• coordination between the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, the Registration Department and revenue authorities.

Who it affects

This matters to:

• buyers of land that may belong to a temple or religious institution,
• present owners or occupiers of such land,
• people applying for patta transfer or other revenue record changes,
• document writers, advocates and property professionals,
• Sub Registrars and revenue officials.

Key directions in the guidance

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department says officials must be careful where land may belong to a temple or religious institution. The text indicates that before acting on registration or patta related matters, the concerned authorities must check the status of the land through the available records and through the department's information.

The guidance also indicates that lists or details of temple lands are to be used for this purpose. Where land is identified as belonging to a temple or religious institution, the authorities are instructed to deal with it accordingly and not treat it like ordinary private land without verification.

The document further shows that communication is expected between departments so that temple lands are identified correctly in registration and revenue processes. It also refers to action in cases where entries or applications concern lands that are recorded or claimed as belonging to religious institutions.

What a property buyer or owner should take from it

• If the land has any temple ownership issue, registration or patta related action may face scrutiny.
• Checking revenue records alone may not be enough if the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has separate records showing temple ownership.
• If you are buying, selling or seeking patta changes for land near or connected with a temple, you should expect verification by officials.
• If the land is shown as temple land in departmental records, the transaction may be affected.