Karnataka Mandates CCTV and Digital Payments for State Run Temples to Prevent Theft

The Karnataka government issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on 13 July 2026, introducing mandatory security and transparency measures for state-run temples in Bengaluru and across the state. The new directive is aimed at preventing donation theft and establishing strict protocols for temple officials and taluk-level officers.

According to the official guidelines, all state-run temples must now install CCTV or web cameras. The footage from these cameras must be stored on a central server, allowing authorities to monitor the temple premises continuously.

In an effort to increase transparency, the state government is mandating digital payment integration. Temples are required to encourage digital payments from devotees using QR codes. These QR codes must be directly linked to the temples' internal accounting systems to ensure all digital transactions are properly recorded.

The SOP also outlines highly structured protocols for handling and counting hundi collections. All collections from temple hundis must be counted on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This counting must take place under strict supervision, featuring face recognition technology and mandatory video recording of the entire process to prevent any discrepancies.

For physical assets and valuables, the government has introduced enhanced security measures. Temples are required to deposit all valuables immediately upon receipt. Additionally, joint inspections by officials will be conducted on a bi-weekly or quarterly schedule, depending on the specific category of the temple.

Under the new SOP, there will be direct accountability for any security lapses. Temple officials and taluk-level officers will be held directly responsible for any theft that occurs from the hundis or during the counting process. The government hopes these measures will secure temple donations and bring greater transparency to temple administration.