Background on Bodh Gaya and BTMC
Bodh Gaya: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the holiest places for Buddhists, as it is the location where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC):
Established under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 (later amended in 2013).
Composition: Includes both Buddhist and non-Buddhist members, with the District Magistrate of Gaya (a non-Buddhist) as the ex-officio chairman.
Demands of Buddhist Organizations
Repeal of the BTMC Act:
Buddhist groups argue that the Act allows non-Buddhist members to control temple management, which they believe is unfair.
Restructuring the BTMC:
Demand for removal of non-Buddhist members from the committee.
Call for exclusive Buddhist administration of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara.
Justification for the Demand:
Buddhists claim they are fully capable of managing the temple.
Emphasis on religious autonomy in temple administration.
Legal and Constitutional Perspectives
Article 26 of the Indian Constitution: Guarantees religious denominations the right to manage their own religious affairs.
Precedents from Other Religious Institutions:
Many Hindu temples are managed by government-appointed boards.
Sikh Gurdwaras and Islamic Wakfs are largely managed by community-led bodies.
Relevance for APSC
Polity & Governance: Laws governing religious institutions in India.
Religious and Minority Rights: Autonomy in temple management under Article 26.
Current Affairs: Ongoing debate on the role of the state in religious institutions.
Ethics & Secularism: Balancing state intervention and religious freedom.
Course Purchase Query 