The Bihar government’s delay in reconstituting the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) has triggered concerns over the administration, security oversight and financial compliance of the UNESCO-listed Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Gaya, with RJD MLA Kumar Sarvajeet alleging that the management body has remained without a regular member-secretary for nearly three months.
Sarvajeet, the MLA from Bodh Gaya, raised the issue at a news conference on Thursday and urged the state government to constitute the new committee immediately. Under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, the BTMC is required to be reconstituted every three years.
The committee consists of the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairperson and eight members, divided equally between the Buddhist and Hindu communities. One of the members serves as member-secretary and is responsible for overseeing the temple’s day-to-day administration.
According to Sarvajeet, the tenure of the previous member-secretary, Mahashweta Maharathi, ended on July 16. He said 98 days had passed without the constitution of a new committee and alleged that the absence of a regular member-secretary was affecting the Mahavihara’s daily administration.
The Gaya district magistrate and BTMC chairperson, Shashank Shubhankar, has deputed additional district magistrate (revenue) Paritosh Kumar to look after the shrine’s day-to-day affairs until a new committee is constituted. The arrangement places an interim official in charge while the state government’s decision on the committee remains pending.
The timing has added significance because November, December and January are considered a major tourist season for the Mahavihara, which receives large numbers of foreign pilgrims and donations. Sarvajeet warned that a prolonged administrative delay could affect the institution’s compliance with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, which governs the receipt and use of foreign contributions.
The MLA referred to an earlier instance in which the BTMC had to pay a penalty of more than Rs 88 lakh following a delay in submitting audited accounts. He also said the institution had previously been deprived of crores of rupees in foreign donations for more than a year. Sarvajeet warned that a similar financial disruption could occur if the committee was not reconstituted soon.
He also raised concerns about security arrangements at the World Heritage site. More than 300 police personnel have been deployed at the Mahavihara, but Sarvajeet alleged that the absence of a fully constituted administrative body could weaken local oversight of security operations.
The dispute highlights the administrative importance of the BTMC beyond the formal composition of its governing body. The committee is responsible for managing the daily functioning of one of Bihar’s most significant religious and heritage sites, including its financial administration and coordination with district authorities. For now, the Gaya administration’s temporary deputation remains in place until the state government announces a new committee.
