Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) There shall be constituted a fund called "Places of Pilgrimage Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation Fund) which shall vest in and be administered by the Foundation Fund Committee under sub- section (5). (2) The Foundation Fund shall consist of all donations and contributions made by any person to the Places of Pilgrimage or in the name of any deity installed therein other than those made for any specific purpose and such other amounts as may be directed by the State Government. (3) All amounts credited to the Foundation Fund shall be invested in long term fixed deposits with such bank or banks as the State Government may approve and shall always be kept so invested and no such fixed deposit shall be pledged or otherwise encumbered: Provided that the State Government may permit such out of the Foundation Fund as they may fix to be utilized for any purpose of the temple as may specify. (4) All amounts accruing by way of interest on such fixed deposits shall be credited to and form part of Foundation Fund constituted under this section. (5) The Foundation Fund Committee shall consists of the following members:- (a) the Chief Minister of the State of Sikkim who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Minister-in-Charge of Tourism and Civil Aviation who shall be the Vice-Chairman; (c) the Secretary to the Government in Tourism and Civil Aviation Department; (d) the Secretary to the Government in the Finance Department or his nominee who shall not be below the rank of a Joint Secretary; (e) the Director/Administrator of the Places of Pilgrimage who shall be the Member Secretary. (6) The Foundation Fund Committee shall conduct its business in such manner as they may determine. (7) During the absence of the Chairman the Vice-Chairman shall act as and perform the functions of the Chairman: 14 Bar to Suits or proceedings Provided that the Secretary to the Government in the Law Department shall act as and perform the functions of the Chairman during any period when both the offices of the Chief Minister and the Minister, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department remains vacant. (8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, custom, usage or agreement, no person shall be entitled to any share out of the amount of donations or contributions to the Foundation Fund made under sub-section (2).