(1)
(2) Powers and duties 19. (1) of the Director!
Administrator There shall be a Director/Administrator for the places of pilgrimage who shall be appointed by the State Government from amongst persons in their active service.
The State Government may also appoint one or more officers to assist the Director/Administrator and the officers so appolntec shall, subject to the control of the Director/Administrator, perform such duties as he may, from time to time, assign.
(2) The Director/Administrator shall be the Secretary of the Committee and its Chief Executive Officer and shall subject to the control of the Committee have powers to carry out its decision in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section(1), the Director/ Administrator shall be responsible for the custody of all records and properties of the Places of Pilgrimage and shall have the following powers:-
(a) to appoint all officers and employees of the temple who profess Buddhist/Hindu religion and should be well conversant with rituals of puja and other rites etc.;
(b) to lease out for a period according to norms/notifications of administrative department at a time the lands and building of the places of pilgrimage which are ordinarily leased out;
(c) to call for tender for works or supplies and accept such tenders as may be prescribed or notified;
(d) to order for emergency repairs;
(e) to specify, by general or special orders, such conditions and safeguards as he deems fit subject to which any office holder or servant shall have the right to be in possession of jewels or other valuable belongings of the places of pilgrimage;
(f) to decide disputes relating to the collection, distribution or appointment of offerings, fees and other receipts in cash or in kind received from the members of the public;
(g) to decide disputes relating to rights, privileges, duties and obligations of office holders and servants in respect of puja and rituals and other day to day work, whether ordinary or special in nature;
(h) to require various volunteers/sevaks and other persons to do their legitimate duties in time;
(i) in absence of any sevaklvolunteer or his substitute or on the failure on the part of any such person to perform his duties to get the work done by any other person; Provided that the exercise of the power under clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e) shall be subject to the directions, if any, of the Committee issued specifically in that behalf.
9 Control of sevaks/ volunteers etc.
Extraordinary powers of the Directorl Administrator Establishment Schedule
(3) The Director/Administrator may, subject to such conditions if any, as the Committee may, by general or special order impose, afford facilities on payment of fees for special service, ritual or ceremony, .
such service, ritual or ceremony not being inconsistent with the custom and usage of the temple and he shall have power to determine the portion, if any, of such fees which shall be paid to the sevaks, office holders or servants of the Places of Pilgrimage.
20. All volunteers, office holders and servants attached to the Places of Pilgrimage or in receipt of any emoluments or perquisites there-from shall, whether such service is hereditary or not, be subject to the control of the Director/Administrator who may, subject to the provisions of this Act and the regulations made by the Committee in that behalf, after giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard,-
(a) withhold the receipt of emoluments or perquisites;
(b) impose a fine of an amount not exceeding RS.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only;
(c) suspend; or
(d) dismiss;
any of them for breach of trust, incapacity, disobedience of lawful orders, neglect or the willful absence from duty, disorderly behavior or conduct derogatory to the discipline or dignity of the Places of Pilgrimage or for any other sufficient cause.
21. The Director/Administrator may in cases of emergency direct the execution of any work or the doing of any act which is not provided (,')1' in the budget for the year and immediate execution or the doing of which is in his opinion necessary for the preservation of the properties of the temple and its endowments or for the service or safety of the pilgrims resorting to the temple or other religious places or for the due performance of the day to day work therein and may direct that the expenses of executing such work or doing the act shall be paid from the fund. The Director/Administrator shall forthwith report to the Committee the action taken under this section and the reasons thereof.