Like our Facebook Page

news details

HC admits PIL on commercialisation of worship at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine 10/18/2016 10:11:27 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Oct 18 : A high court division bench of first puisne judge, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice B S Walia today admitted a PIL, seeking quashment of May 31, 2008 order No SMVDSB/CEO/ST/152-159 and March 11, 2008 order No 569/SB and directions to respondents to take immediate steps for modifying of these orders whereby Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has fixed the price for devotees to attend and perform Aarti at the bhavan. While admitting the PIL, the bench issued a post Admission Notice to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SMVDSB and others. During the course of hearing, the petitioner submitted that the religious sentiments of crores of devotees had been shaken by the respondents because of their impugned act of commercialising the worship at the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi by fixing the price of attending Aarti for the devotees who desire to become part of the two Aartis which are performed outside and inside the bhavan. Aarti is performed twice in 24 hours and only those devotees who can pay the exorbitant price fixed by the respondents can participate and those who do not have such huge amount are not even allowed to enter the entrance gate to even see the Aarti. The petitioner said neither the Constitution of India nor any law empowers respondents to fix the price for the devotees to attend and perform Aarti. It was a settled position of law that the authorities could prescribe regulations for any public cause provided there was an enabling provision under the relevant statute. A perusal of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Act nowhere specifies that the authorities administering its provisions and rules framed thereunder can commercialise the worship or prescribe any fee or charges for Aarti. It was submitted that under SMVDSB Act, there was no provision which even remotely 'suggests that the respondents can prescribe any charges for devotees to attend Aarti. (JNF)   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

top stories of the day

Inapt JKCA, Anurag's interests denying Jammu International cricket stadium State makes least use of digital system Blue eyed liaison officer gets undue benefits at Bhaderwah Campus BJP mantri brazenly promotes nepotism Rifle snatching plan to force Kashmiris quit JK police How JU's committees have become toothless Craving for badges, DySPs wear ranks of SSP Amidst crisis in Valley, J&K lost its most apt officer Not satisfied with postings, IPS officers seeking central deputation 9 yrs on, Revenue dept yet to demarcate state land at Sonamarg 'Meetings pertaining to Housing Board, LAWDA, SDA cancelled' Border farmers in catch 22 situation NC turns radical, eyes Srinagar LS seat, Anantnag Assembly constituency NC leadership under attack for siding with separatists CM Mehbooba calls separatists' bluff Omar Abdullah's Shahrukh Khan act proves a flop show Jammu to have First pain killer center in north India Appointment of VCs of 2 cluster universities likely on Oct 21 School Olympics: DC did what Sports Council, JKOA, didn't for years Partiality alleged in kabaddi match

STOCK UPDATE

BSE Sensex NSE Nifty

CRICKET UPDATE