Varanasi Temple Tax Row: Hindu Saints Rise Voice Against Municipal Notices.

Temple Tangle: Municipal Tax Notices Spark Fury Among Hindu Saints in Varanasi. 

Upendra Bharti | HENB  | Varanasi | Dec 18, 2025:: In a move that has sent shockwaves across the spiritual city of Varanasi, the local municipal corporation has issued attachment notices to several revered Hindu mutts and temples, sparking outrage among the saint community. The notices, served for pending tax dues, have been deemed “unprecedented” by Mahant Balak Devacharya of Patalpuri Mutt, who warns of an impending agitation if the issue isn’t resolved promptly.

The controversy centers around the Varanasi Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) decision to slap attachment notices on numerous monasteries and temples in the city, citing arrears of house tax, water tax, and sewer tax. The Patalpuri Mutt alone has received a notice for tax arrears exceeding Rs 2 lakh, with several other institutions facing similar demands. This has sparked a sensation among the Hindu community.

Mahant Balak Devacharya has condemned the move, stating that it’s the first time in the country’s history that mutts and temples have been targeted with such notices. “Monasteries and temples should not be brought under the tax net,” he asserted, threatening to mobilize the saint community if the VMC doesn’t backtrack.

The VMC’s public relations officer, Sandeep Srivastava, defended the action, claiming the notices were issued as per norms. However, he revealed that the house tax had been waived for the mutts, and revised bills had been issued, with water tax and sewer tax remaining payable.

The development has raised eyebrows, particularly given Varanasi’s status as Prime Minister Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency.The Hindu saint community is drawing parallels between the current tax notices and past controversies surrounding the Kashi Temple Corridor project, which saw the demolition of many ancient temples and the displacement of deities, who were thrown into garbage and drains in utter humiliation.

Critics are questioning the timing and intent behind the notices, with some alleging that the move is aimed at humiliating and repressing the Hindu community. The issue has also sparked concerns about discriminatory treatment, as it’s unclear whether mosques and churches in Varanasi have received similar tax notices.

As tensions escalate, the saint community is gearing up for a showdown with the VMC, demanding an immediate resolution to the impasse. The outcome of this standoff will be closely watched, with far-reaching implications for the city’s spiritual and cultural landscape.
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_Inputs from PTI.