The UTTARAKHAND CHAR DHAM DEVASTHANAM MANAGEMENT Act, 2019
uttarakhand · 2020
The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.
- S. 1Section penalizes wrongful withholding or destruction of Char Dham institutions' property, documents, or accounts, with up to three years' imprisonment and a fine.
- S. 2Section 2 defines key terms used in the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019.
- S. 3Section 3 establishes the Char Dham Devasthanam Board, appointing it to manage Char Dham religious sites, with specific official members.
- S. 4Section 4 establishes the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board as the highest authority for managing and modernizing religious temples in Uttarakhand.
- S. 5Section 5 outlines the term, removal, and disqualification conditions for nominated and official members of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board.
- S. 6Section 6 allows the State Government to dismiss nominated Board members for various disqualifications, including insolvency or conviction, and requires due process.
- S. 7Section 7 states that a member's seat on the Board becomes vacant if they meet any disqualification criteria outlined in section 6.
- S. 8Section 8 outlines the meeting procedures and quorum requirements for the Char Dham Board.
- S. 9Section 9 protects the Board's actions from invalidation due to vacancies and deems its members public servants.
- S. 10Section 10 establishes a High level Committee to ensure inter departmental cooperation for smooth conduct of Char Dham Yatra/pilgrimage.
- S. 11Section establishes a High level Committee to coordinate departments for smooth Char Dham pilgrimage execution.
- S. 12Section 12 mandates the High level Committee for Yatra and Devasthanam Coordination to meet at least every six months.
- S. 13The State Government appoints a CEO and may appoint other officers to assist the CEO under the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019.
- S. 14The State Government can appoint various officers to assist the CEO in managing the Char Dham Devasthanam.
- S. 15Section 15 empowers the CEO to oversee and manage Char Dham and associated temples, ensuring proper administration, development, fund management, and coordination with local authorities.
- S. 16Section 16 funds CEO's office and staff salaries from the Uttarakhand Char Dham Fund, supported by state grants.
- S. 17Section 17 mandates the CEO to maintain detailed registers and online databases for each covered temple, documenting its history, administration, assets, and records.
- S. 18Section 18 mandates the CEO to annually update the register of Char Dham Devasthanams and share the changes with trustees and priests.
- S. 19Section 19 preserves existing rights for priests and trustees, mandates trustees to follow customary practices and CEO directives, and requires scrutiny of records for errors.
- S. 20Section mandates the Trustee to provide required administrative, financial, and property reports to the CEO as directed.
- S. 21Section 21 authorizes the CEO or authorized personnel to inspect Devasthanams' property and records to ensure compliance with the Act.
- S. 22The section transfers all properties of Char Dham Devasthanams to the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devsthanam Management Board upon its constitution.
- S. 23Section 23 prohibits transfers or leases of Char Dham Devasthanams' properties without CEO's approval and voids unauthorized transactions.
- S. 24Section 24 prohibits registration of Char Dham Devasthanams' property alienation without a prior sanctioning order.
- S. 25Section 25 mandates CEO to refer and initiate legal action for property restoration if it's found alienated in violation of Section 23.
- S. 26(1) The provisions contained in the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972 (U
- S. 27Section 27 empowers the Board to recommend Devasthanam areas for protection, regulate site maintenance, and acquire properties for Char Dham development.
- S. 28Section 28 outlines the CEO's role in appointing Char Dham Devasthanams officials with Board approval, considering religious and hereditary rights.
- S. 29Section 29 allows the CEO to suspend, remove, or dismiss Char Dham Devasthanams trustees or priests for various misconducts, with a right to appeal.
- S. 30Section 30 disqualifies individuals from being Trustees, Priests, or Rawals if they meet any of several specified conditions, including insolvency, criminal conviction, or adverse actions against the institution.
- S. 31Section 31 outlines the succession and appointment procedures for hereditary priests and trustees in Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam temples.
- S. 32Section 32 establishes the Uttarakhand Char Dham Fund, managed by the CEO, to receive and account for various incomes and contributions to Char Dham Devasthanams.
- S. 33Section 33 mandates recovery of dues from the Char Dham Temple as land revenue under the Uttar Pradesh Public Money (Recovery of Dues) Act.
- S. 34Section 34 establishes Hundi receptacles for pilgrim offerings, directs fund crediting, and prohibits unauthorized interference.
- S. 35Section 35 mandates the CEO to prepare annual budgets for each Devasthanam, covering various expenditures and to present it for board approval.
- S. 36For each Devasthanam/temple regular accounts of all receipts and disbursements shall be kept
- S. 37Section penalizes officials for non-compliance, negligence, misconduct, or obstructing Char Dham Devasthanam administration.
- S. 39Every offence punishable under this Act shall be non cognizable and bailable
- S. 40Every offence punishable under this Act shall be triable by Judicial Magistrate of First class
- S. 41Section 41 protects officers and others acting under the Act from legal suits for good faith actions.
- S. 42Section 42 allows the State Government to resolve Act implementation issues via orders, but only within two years, and requires these orders to be presented to the State Legislative Assembly.
- S. 43Section 43 allows the Board to receive funds from various sources for the development of Char Dham Devasthanams and other religious institutions.
- S. 44The section allows the State Government to add more temples to the schedule by official notification.
- S. 45Section exempts Waqfs, Sikh Gurudwaras, and other central/state religious institutions from the Act's provisions.
- S. 46—
- S. 47Section 47 prevents civil suits against the state government or board officials for actions taken under the act.
- S. 48Section 48 overrides any conflicting laws or management schemes for Char Dham Devasthanam.
- S. 49(1) The United Provinces Shri Badrinath Temple Act, 1939 (U