-
Government had suspended the proposed Devasthan Inam Abolition Act on 6 June, after strong opposition
-
Includes representatives from the state’s temple bodies in committee formulating revised version
Mumbai – In response to widespread opposition from various temple bodies, trustees and Hindu organisations across Maharashtra to the ‘Maharashtra Devasthan Inam Abolition (Draft) Act 2026’, the state government suspended the controversial draft on 6 June 2026. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has assured that a revised draft will be prepared, safeguarding the interests of Devasthans. Representatives from the state’s temple bodies have been included in the committee tasked with formulating the revised version.
This committee has been established under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue, Registration, and Stamp Duty Department. On 17 June, the Revenue Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on this matter, listing the names of the members included in the committee.
🚩 Mumbai: @mandirmahasangh, Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad & Temple Trust Representatives Included in Devasthan Inam Lands Committee!
A significant step for temple rights in Maharashtra.
Following strong opposition from temples and pro-Hindu organizations, the State Government has… https://t.co/i42xwDdk2M pic.twitter.com/pY91EqgEzN
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) June 19, 2026
Crucial role of the ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’
The Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh was among the first to alert the government to the potential risk of ‘land mafias seizing temple lands’ under the original draft of the ‘Maharashtra Devasthan Inam Abolition Act 2026’. Led by the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, numerous Devasthans across the state voiced their opposition to the draft. On 26 May 2026, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule held a meeting at Mantralaya with representatives of the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh and various Devasthans. He assured them that a decision in the interest of the Devasthans would be taken. On 6 June 2026, he announced that the draft had been put on hold.
Representatives from Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, and other organisations included
This committee includes the National Coordinator of the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, Shri. Sunil Ghanwat; the National President of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar; along with Advocate Ashish Sonawane (Pune), Shri. Sanjeev Deshpande (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Shri. Sandeep Mahajan (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Shri. Anil Sambare (Nagpur), Advocate Rajesh Mudholkar (Thane), Shri. Jagdish Patil (Solapur), Advocate Ravindra Kshirsagar (Pune), Senior Legal Expert S.K. Jain, the Founding President of the Vidarbha Devasthan Samiti, Anup Jaiswal, Shri. Vijay Pore (Satara), and Trustee of the ‘Chinchwad Devasthan Trust’, Shri. Keshav Vidwans.
