The Guthi Corporation Act, 1976

What does it do?

• The Act consolidates the law on the Guthi Corporation (Guthi Sansthan), which manages Raj Guthis — trusts endowed for temples, festivals, rest houses, water sources, schools and other religious or charitable purposes — so that they are run properly and good relations are kept between guthi tenants and the public. It distinguishes Raj Guthi (managed by the Corporation), Chhut Guthi and private guthi, and some chhut and private guthis can be converted into Raj Guthi, with their rights passing to the Corporation.मन्दिर, पर्व, पाटीपौवा, धारा–पोखरी, पाठशाला लगायत धार्मिक वा परोपकारी कामका लागि राखिएका गुठीमध्ये राजगुठीको राम्रो सञ्चालन गर्न र गुठी मोही र जनताबीच सुसम्बन्ध कायम राख्न यस ऐनले गुठी संस्थानसम्बन्धी कानून एकीकृत गरेको छ। ऐनले राजगुठी (संस्थानले चलाउने), छुट गुठी र निजी गुठी छुट्याएको छ, र कतिपय छुट वा निजी गुठी राजगुठीमा परिणत भई तिनको हक संस्थानमा सर्न सक्छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), consolidated official text Preamble; Section 2(ग)–(च), pp. 1–3; Sections 19–21, pp. 12–13
• The Corporation is run by a board chaired by a government appointee, with representatives of the home, law and education/culture ministries, the Director General of Land Revenue, three experienced members nominated by the government and the administrator as member-secretary. It manages Raj Guthi land and income, conducts worship and festivals according to tradition, manages offerings at temples (Section 17(6क)), may lease, build and invest surplus income, and must keep accounts and submit annual reports; the government may direct it, and local administration and police must help remove encroachers.सरकारले तोकेका व्यक्तिको अध्यक्षतामा गृह, कानून र शिक्षा/संस्कृति मन्त्रालयका प्रतिनिधि, मालपोत विभागका महानिर्देशक, सरकारले मनोनीत गरेका तीन अनुभवी व्यक्ति र प्रशासक सदस्य–सचिव रहेको सञ्चालक समितिले संस्थान चलाउँछ। संस्थानले राजगुठीको जग्गा र आम्दानी व्यवस्थापन गर्छ, परम्पराअनुसार पूजा र जात्रा चलाउँछ, मठमन्दिरमा चढ्ने भेटीघाटीको व्यवस्था गर्छ (दफा १७(६क)), बहाल, निर्माण र बचत रकम लगानी गर्न सक्छ, र हिसाब राखी वार्षिक प्रतिवेदन दिनुपर्छ; सरकारले निर्देशन दिन सक्छ, र अतिक्रमण हटाउन स्थानीय प्रशासन र प्रहरीले सहयोग गर्नुपर्छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), consolidated official text Sections 9, 14–17, pp. 5–11; Sections 52–53, p. 24
• Guthi zamindari was abolished. Actual cultivators of guthi land get tenancy rights under the land laws, pay rent (kut) or land revenue to the Corporation, and may in specified cases trade tenancy rights; people lawfully living on guthi land can have house plots registered in their names. The Corporation must register guthi land, keep land records and can consolidate holdings.गुठी जिमिदारी उन्मूलन गरिएको छ। गुठी जग्गामा खास जोताहा किसानले प्रचलित कानूनबमोजिम मोहियानी हक पाउँछन्, संस्थानलाई कुत वा मालपोत तिर्छन्, र तोकिएका अवस्थामा मोहियानी हक किनबेच गर्न सकिन्छ; गुठी जग्गामा कानूनबमोजिम घरबारी बनाई बसेकाको नाममा घरबारीको हदसम्म जग्गा दर्ता हुन्छ। संस्थानले गुठी जग्गा दर्ता, लगत र चक्लाबन्दी गर्छ। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), consolidated official text Sections 22–30, pp. 13–18; Sections 47–51, pp. 23–24
• Failing to submit details or pay land revenue, registering guthi land as private (raikar) land, embezzling deities' ornaments (fined the amount embezzled) and neglecting guthi duties (fines up to Rs 500 and replacement of the priest or trustee) are offences; the Corporation's designated officer hears cases with court-like powers, without prejudice to prosecution under other laws.विवरण वा मालपोत नबुझाउने, गुठी जग्गा रैकरमा दर्ता गराउने, देवीदेवताका गरगहना हिनामिना गर्ने (बिगोबमोजिम जरिवाना) र गुठीको काम नगरी धर्मलोप गर्ने (पाँच सय रुपैयाँसम्म जरिवाना र महन्त, पुजारी वा गुठियार हटाउन सकिने) कसुर हुन्; तोकिएको अधिकारीले अदालतसरहको अधिकारसहित मुद्दा हेर्छ, र अन्य कानूनबमोजिम कारबाही गर्न बाधा पर्दैन। Nepal Law Commission (lawcommission.gov.np), consolidated official text Sections 54–61, pp. 24–25

Where does it conflict with other laws?

• प्राचीन स्मारक संरक्षण ऐन, २०१३
  The Auditor General documents ownership disputes over heritage sites such as Pashupati, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath between the Guthi Corporation, the area development committees and local guthis, and recommends harmonising the Guthi Corporation Act, the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act and the area development committee Acts to settle ownership of tangible and intangible heritage.पशुपति, स्वयम्भूनाथ, बौद्धनाथ लगायतका सम्पदाको जग्गामा गुठी संस्थान, सम्बन्धित क्षेत्र विकास समिति र स्थानीय गुठीबीच स्वामित्व विवाद रहेको उल्लेख गर्दै महालेखापरीक्षकले गुठी संस्थान ऐन, प्राचीन स्मारक संरक्षण ऐन र क्षेत्र विकास समितिसम्बन्धी ऐनबीच सामञ्जस्य कायम गरी मूर्त र अमूर्त सम्पदाको स्वामित्व किटान गर्न सुझाव दिएका छन्। Office of the Auditor General, Nepal OAG 63rd report, Department of Archaeology performance audit, para 4, PDF p. 690 (printed p. 654); para 11, PDF p. 693 (printed p. 657)

Open questions for lawmakers

Research candidates on possible conflicts, gaps or loopholes involving this law. Not legal findings: each awaits qualified legal review.

• Who owns and manages heritage sites and temple offerings: the Guthi Corporation Act, the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act and area development Acts point to different bodies