Affairs to be managed on the lines of SMVDSB, SASB
Local Legislators won’t have any direct interference
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 4: Union Ministry of Home Affairs has paved the way for nomination of distinguished personalities from outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as Members of two Boards governing the affairs of three major shrines of Jammu region. Moreover, the local legislators will not have any right to directly interfere in the functioning of these Shrine Boards.
All this has become possible due to the amendments carried out in the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Act, 2008 and Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukrala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013 by way of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020 passed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently.
With this development, the affairs of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi district and Shri Mata Sukrala Devi and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrines in Kathua district will be managed on the lines of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which have distinguished personalities from outside the J&K as their Members.
Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Act, 2008 and Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukrala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013 commonly reads: “The administration, management and governance of these shrines shall vest in the Boards, which shall comprise of Divisional Commissioner Jammu as Chairperson, Deputy Commissioner Reasi/Kathua as Vice-Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer or Additional Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board as Member”.
In these Acts, there was also a provision for nomination of two persons, who in the opinion of the Government have distinguished themselves in the service of Hindu religion or culture; one woman, who in the opinion of the Government has distinguished herself in service of Hindu religion or culture or social work, especially in regard to advancement of women and two persons, who have distinguished themselves in administration, legal affairs, financial matters and journalism etc.
But there was a condition that at least three members from these categories shall be permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, in the explanation appended to Section 5 of these Acts it was mentioned that Member of the Legislative Assembly representing the area, if he be a Hindu, shall be a special invitee at the meetings of the respective Shrine Boards with right to vote.
However, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has omitted the explanation/condition appended to Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Act, 2008 and Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013.
With the amendments in these Acts, the Ministry of Home Affairs has paved the way for nomination of distinguished personalities from outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as Members of two Boards governing the affairs of three major and revered shrines of the Jammu region on the lines of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi and Shri Amarnath Shrine Boards.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is no clause in the Acts whereby Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board have been established that Members of these Boards shall be the residents of Jammu and Kashmir only.
With the amendments, the Members of Legislative Assembly representing the areas where Shiv Khori, Mata Bala Sundari and Mata Sukrala Devi Shrines are located will not have any right to directly interfere in the functioning of the Boards. “This development is also in line of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi and Shri Amarnath Shrine Boards wherein politicians have no direct say”, sources said.
They, however, clarified that amendments in the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Act, 2008 and Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013 don’t mean that residents of J&K cannot be considered for the posts of nominated Members of the Boards.
As per the Acts, the Members of these Boards other than the official Members, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10, hold office for a term of five years from the date of their nomination.
These Boards have the duties to arrange for the proper performance of worship at the shrines; to make arrangements for the safe custody of the funds, valuables, properties and jewelleries and for the preservation of the Shrine Fund; to undertake the developmental activities in the shrine area; to make arrangements for imparting of religious instructions and general education and to ensure efficient management, maintenance and administration of the shrines.
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