Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013

No: 3 Dated: Apr, 25 2013

THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR SHRI MATA SUKHRALA DEVI JI SHRINE AND SHRI MATA BALA SUNDARI SHRINE ACT, 2013

(Act No. III of 2013)

    An Act to provide for the better management, administration and governance of Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine and its endowments including the lands and buildings attached, or appurtenant, to the shrines and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

    Be it enacted by the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature in the Sixtyfourth Year of the Republic of India as follows :—

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, appoint.

2. Act to override other laws.— This Act shall have effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law for the time being in force or in any scheme of management, order, decree, custom, usage or instrument.

3. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Act” means the Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mata Sukhrala Devi Ji and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Act, 2013 ;

(b) “Board” means the Shri Mata Sukharala Devi Ji Shrine and Shri Mata Bala Sundari Shrine Board constituted under the Act ;

(c) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of Board ;

(d) “Endowment” means all properties, movable or immovable belonging to, or given or endowed for the maintenance, improvement, addition to, or worship in the Shrines or for the performance of any service or charity connected therewith and includes idols installed therein, the premises of the Shrines and gifts of properties made by anyone within the precincts of the Shrines and lands and building attached or appurtenant thereto ;

(e) “Government” means the Government of Jammu and Kashmir ;

(f) “Member” means member of the Board and includes the Chairperson ;

(g) “Prescribed” means prescribed by the Bye-Laws made under the Act ;

(h) “Shrine Fund” means the endowment and includes all sums received by or on behalf of, or for the time being held for the benefit of the Shrines, and also includes all the endowments which have been, or may hereafter be, made for the benefit of the Shrines or any other deity thereof in the name of any person, or for the convenience, comfort or benefit of the pilgrims thereto, as well as offerings made to any of the deities comprised the Shrines ; and

(i) “Vice-Chairperson” means the Vice-Chairperson of the Board.

4. Vesting of Shrine Fund.— The ownership of the Shrine Fund shall from the commencement of the Act, vest in the Board and the Board shall be entitled to its possession and use for purposes of the Act.