(1) This Act may be called the Haryana Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine Act, 1991.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Board” means Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine Board constituted under section 4 of this Act;
(b) “endowment” means all property, movable or immovable, belonging to, or given for endowed or the maintenance, improvement, additions to, or worship in the Shrine or for the performance of any service or charity, connected therewith and includes the idols installed therein, the premises of the Shrine and gifts of property made to any one within the precincts of the Shrine and lands and buildings attached, or appurtenant thereto;
SHRI MATA SHEETLA DEVI SHRINE[1992 : Hr. Act 10 Short title and Commencement.
Definitions.
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Haryana Government Gazette (Extraordinary) dated the 17th December, 1991, Page 2217.
2 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Haryana Govt. Gazette (Extraordinary) dated the 15th November, 1996, Page 2370.
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(c) “Government” means the Government of the State of Haryana;
(d) “math” means a math as understood under Hindu law;
(e) “member” means member of the Board constituted under section 4 and includes a 1[Member-Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman professing Hindu religion, in case Chairman, Vice-Chairman,] ex-officio member and Member Secretary happens to be non-Hindu, the Government may appoint in his place another member professing Hindu religion;
(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(g) “pujari” means pujaris and includes pandits and purohits or such other person who perform or conducts puja or other rituals;
(h) “Shrine” means the Shrine of Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Gurgaon, all temples, math and idols within the premises of Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine and endowments attached thereto, established with a religious object for a public purpose and includes,—
(i) all properties movable, immovable, belonging to or given or endowed for worship in, maintenance or improvement of, addition to, or temple, for the performance of any service or charity connected therewith; and
(ii) the idols installed in the temple, clothes, ornaments and things for decoration, etc.;
(i) “Shrine fund” means and includes all sums received by or on behalf of , or for the time being held for the benefit of the Shrine, and also includes all the endowments which have been or may hereafter be made for the benefit of the Shrine 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 all offerings made to any of the deities comprised in the Shrine; and
(j) “temple” means a place, by whatever designation known, used as a place of public religious worship, and dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or used as of right by, the Hindu community or any section thereof as a place of public religious worship.
3. The ownership of the Shrine fund shall, from the commencement of this Act, vest in the Board and the Board shall be entitled to its possession, administration and use for the purpose of this Act.
Vesting of Shrine fund.
1. Substituted by Haryana Act 21 of 1996.
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4. The administration, management and governance of the Shrine shall vest in a Board consisting of a 1[Chairman, Vice-Chairman] and not more than eleven members.
(a) Chief Minister, Haryana, shall be the Chairman;
1[(aa) Minister-in-charge, Local Government, Haryana, shall be the Vice-Chairman;]
2[(b) Secretary to Government, Haryana, Local Government Department whether designated as Financial Commissioner, Local Government or Commissioner, Local Government, as the case may be, shall be the ex-officio member;]
(c) Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, shall be the ex-officio Member Secretary;
(d) nine persons to be nominated by the Government as members in the following manner:—
(i) two persons who, in the opinion of the Government have distinguished themselves in the service of Hindu religion or culture;
(ii) two women, who in the opinion of the Government have distinguished themselves in the service of Hindu religion, culture or social work, especially in regard to advancement of women;
(iii) there persons, out of persons who have distinguished themselves in administration, legal affairs or financial matters;
(iv) two eminent Hindus of the State of Haryana.
5. The Shrine funds would be applied,—
(a) for defraying expenses for the proper maintenance of the temple, performance of puja and other rituals;
(b) for providing amenities, facilities to the visiting devotees;
(c) for training of vidyarthies;
(d) for establishment and maintenance of the educational institutions; and
(e) for securing the health, safety and convenience of disciples, pilgrims and worshippers visiting the Shrine.
6. The Board shall be a body corporate and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may by the said name sue and be sued.
Constitution of Board.
Defraying of Shrine fund.
Incorporation of Board.
1 Inserted by Haryana Act 21 of 1996.
2 Substituted by Haryana Act 21 of 1996.
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7. A nominated member of the Board shall hold office during the pleasure of the Government; provided that his term of office shall not exceed three years from the date of his nomination under section 4.
8. A person shall be disqualified for being nominated as a member of the Board—
(a) if such person is not a Hindu;
(b) if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court or if he is a deaf, mute, or is suffering from contagious leprosy or any virulent contagious disease;
(c) if he is an undercharged insolvent;
(d) if he is appearing as a legal practitioner against the Board;
(e) if he is sentenced by criminal court for an offence involving moral turpitude, such sentence not having been reversed;
(f) if in the opinion of the Government he has acted against the interest of the Shrine;
(g) if he is an office holder or servant attached to the Board;
(h) if he has been guilty of corruption or misconduct in the administration of the Shrine; and
(i) if he is addicted to intoxicating liquors or drugs.