The Bihar Assembly, on 30 July, passed the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Bill (amendment) paving the way for a non-Hindu to head the Mahabodhi Temple committee. As of now, the nine-member management committee comprises of four members from each Hindu and Buddhist communities while it is headed by the Hindu District Magistrate of Gaya. In the case the District Magistrate of Gaya is other than a Hindu, the state government has been nominating some other Hindu officer of the same rank as the head of the committee. In a statement, the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, said holding a post of District Magistrate is a government position and it cannot be linked to any religion. He further added that the amendment bill has been passed so as to maintain the secular sanctity of the government posts.
WAY PAVED FOR A NON-HINDU TO HEAD MAHABODHI TEMPLE PANEL
The Bihar Assembly, on 30 July, passed the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Bill (amendment) paving the way for a non-Hindu to head the Mahabodhi Temple committee. As of now, the nine-member management committee comprises of four members from each Hindu and Buddhist communities while it is headed by the Hindu District Magistrate of Gaya.
