Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965

No: 7 Dated: Dec, 31 1965

THE KERALA HINDU PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP  (AUTHORISATION OF ENTRY) ACT, 1965

(No. 7 of 1965) 

    An Act to make better provisions for the entry of all classes and sections of Hindus into places of public worship.

    In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Kerala State Legislature (Delegation of Powers) Act, 1965 (12 of 1965), the President is pleased to enact as follows :-

1. Short title, extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Kerala.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

2. Deftnitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) " Hindu" includes a person professing the Buddhist, Sikh or Jaina religion ;

(b) "place of public worship" means a place, by whatever name known or to whomsoever belonging, which is dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or is used generally by, Hindus or any section or class thereof, for the performance of any religious service or for offering prayers therein, and includes all lands and subsidiary shrines, mutts, devasthanams, namaskara mandapams and nalambalams, appurtenant or attached to any such place, and also any sacred tanks, wells, springs and water courses the waters of which are worshipped, or are used for bathing or for worship but does not include a "sreekoil "

(c) "section or class" includes any division, sub-division, caste, sub-caste, sect or denomination whatsoever.