Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Provided that the State Government may stay the execution of any such decision or order pending in exercise of their power under sub-section (2) in respect thereof. (1) Whenever any person having duties to perform in respect of the daily or periodical rituals of the Places of Pilgrimage or worship of the deity raises any claim or dispute and fails or refuses to perform such duties, knowing or having reasons to believe that the non- performance of the said duties would cause delay in the performance of the rituals or worship or inconvenience or harassment to the public or any section thereof entitled to worship in the temple and willfully disobeys or fails to comply with the orders of the Director/ Administrator directing him to perform his duties without prejudice to the results of a proper adjudication of such claim or disputes, such person or any other person who abets such conduct shall be 15 guilty of an offence punishable on conviction with fine which may extend upto Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only. (2) Whoever voluntarily causes obstruction by use of force or otherwise, . to any person in the due performance of any puja or ritual which such person is entitled or authorized to perform, shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to RS.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both. (3) Whoever not being authorized by the Committee or the Director/ Administrator interferes with the free moverner.t of visitors within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage or with any precautionary measures taken for their safety or convenience shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to RS.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both. (4) Whoever,- (a) not being the person entitled to perform any ritual or puja or to make any offering to any deity installed within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage, perform such ritual or puja or makes such offering; or (b) forcibly enters into nay place within the Places of Pilgrimage when such entrance is prohibited under any law or custom or under any lawful order issued by the Committee or by the Director/Administrator; or (c) takes inside the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage any article knowing that the taking of such article is prohibited under any law or custom or by any ceclaration made and published in the prescribed manner by the Committee with due regard to the prevailing custom, public health, morality or the religious sentiments of the public; shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two months or with fine which may extend to Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both. (5) Whoever answers the call of nature at any place within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage other than that set apart for the purpose or enters the Places of Pilgrimage in a state of intoxication and conduct himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person or commits any act of indecency or uses obscene of abusive language within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred) only. 16 Offences to be cognizable Cognizance of offences Composition of offences Funds to be credited to Places of Pilgrimage Fund Regulations Power to make rules