Shimla, July 11: The Himachal Pradesh government has released a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at enhancing the security of temples under its jurisdiction and managing donations effectively. The Department of Language, Art, and Culture has instructed all relevant temple administrations to ensure transparency, accountability, and the safety of offerings made by devotees.
According to the new SOP, all donation boxes (hundi) will be tamper-proof and installed securely. Each donation box will be assigned a unique identification number, and a double-lock or multi-key system will be implemented. A record of every procedure related to opening and closing the donation boxes will be mandatory.
The government has mandated that donation boxes will only be opened on pre-scheduled dates. During these openings, the presence of temple officials, representatives from the district administration, accounting officers, members of the temple management committee, and independent witnesses will be required. The entire counting process of the donations will be monitored by CCTV, and video recordings will be made.
Under the SOP, high-quality night vision and audio recording-enabled CCTV cameras will be installed in temple premises. These cameras will cover entry and exit points, areas around the sanctum sanctorum, donation boxes, counting rooms, and strong rooms. All CCTV footage must be securely stored for at least 180 days.
Strict provisions have also been established for financial management. Cash donations received at temples must be deposited into authorized bank accounts within one working day. There will be a prohibition on holding large amounts of cash within temple premises unless prior written permission is obtained. The government has also directed the promotion of digital donation methods, including UPI, QR codes, and online banking.
According to the SOP, physical verification of temple jewelry and other valuables will occur every three months, while audits will be conducted annually by government-designated agencies. Staff handling cash and valuables will undergo police verification, and their responsibilities will be rotated periodically. Strict control measures will be implemented for access to sensitive areas.
The government has appointed the Director of the Department of Language, Art, and Culture as the state-level nodal officer. All state-managed temples must submit a compliance report on the SOP to the government within 30 days, detailing security arrangements, CCTV installations, audit status, and other implemented measures. Additionally, all district commissioners have been instructed to take necessary steps to implement similar security measures in other temples within their jurisdictions.
The government has made it clear that legal and departmental actions will be taken against executive officers and temple management committees for non-compliance or negligence regarding the SOP.
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