Shimla: In the wake of reports of alleged theft and misappropriation of devotees’ offerings at a prominent temple, the Himachal Pradesh Government has issued a comprehensive advisory to strengthen security, transparency and accountability in all state government-owned and managed temples. The directions, issued by the Department of Language, Art and Culture, mandate immediate implementation by temple management committees and concerned officials.
Under the new guidelines, temple donation boxes (hundis) must be tamper-proof, uniquely identified and operated through a dual-lock or multi-key system. Opening and counting of offerings will be carried out by a notified committee in the presence of independent witnesses, with the entire process videographed and monitored through CCTV surveillance.
The advisory also calls for installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras at key locations, including temple entrances, sanctum surroundings, donation boxes, counting rooms and strong rooms. CCTV footage must be preserved for at least 180 days. Cash collected from offerings is to be deposited in designated bank accounts within one working day, while proper digital records of cash, jewellery and other valuables must be maintained.
The government has further directed periodic inventory verification, monthly internal audits, annual statutory audits and strict access control to counting and strong rooms. Staff handling cash and valuables will undergo police verification and periodic rotation. The guidelines also encourage digital donations through UPI, QR codes and online banking to improve transparency.
Temple authorities have been instructed to report any theft, fraud or irregularity immediately to the police, district administration and the Department of Language, Art and Culture. All government-managed temples have also been asked to submit a compliance report within 30 days detailing security arrangements, CCTV coverage, audit status and steps taken to implement the new directions.
