Endowments Amendment Bill moves Malabar Devaswom temple accounts from the Fasli year to the financial year

12 October 2026

Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan moved the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Kerala Assembly on 12 October 2026 for reference to a committee, and the motion was adopted. The Bill replaces the Fasli year with the financial year for the accounts and audit of temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board. It amends Sections 70, 71, 76 and 79 of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951. The minister said 1,403 temples come under the Malabar Devaswom Board and only 115 of them generate income, so most depend on government grants. He said a comprehensive Malabar Devaswom Bill will be introduced in the next Assembly session to strengthen the Board's powers over trustees.