STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) welcomed the judgement of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the need for the Act to regulate the religious property of Hindus in the Valley.
Dr. R.L Bhat Spokesperson of the Trust said over the past few months there have been a large number of allegations and counter allegation that the temple land and endowments have been misappropriated.
“As the High Court has pointed out the temple lands are being alienated by Mahants and managers through leases, attorneys, etc. when they have no such powers to dispose off the temple lands. Often they have taken over the temple without due authorisation. Their actions are arbitrary and rarely in the interest of the holy shrines and devotees,” he said.
PNBMT President Dr A.N Pandita expressed gratitude to the Judges for the remarks that “there should have been an Act, Rules and Regulations made there under, to provide for proper control, efficient management and regulation of the properties of the temples”.
The work titled Hindu Shrines of Kashmir by Dr R.L Bhat has already been published by PNBMT. It lists 1,403 holy places comprising of 975 temples and shrines and 428 sacred sites, cremation grounds , scared grooves etc. These are spread over all the ten districts of the Valley. A draft of the Shrine Bill prepared by eminent Judges and jurists has also been finalised.
PNBMT hoped that the clarity and concern expressed by the Court should prevail upon the powers that be and pave the way for enactment of the Shrine Bill.
PNBMT again called up on both the coalition parties, PDP and BJP, ruling J and K State to fulfil their promises and pass the Shrine Bill at the earliest.
