(1) The Committee may, with the approval of the State Government, install one or more receptacles (hereinafter referred to as donation/ offering box) at such place or places in the Places of Pilgrimage as it may think fit for placing of offerings by the pilgrims and devotees visiting the Places of Pilgrimage
(2) The donation/offering box shall be operated by such person and in such manner as the State Government may, from time to time, determine.
(3) The State Government may, from time to time, direct such portion of the offerings placed in a donation/offering box be credited to the Foundation Fund.
(4) No person shall, without being authorized by the Director/ Administrator in this behalf, go near or interfere in any manner with any donation/offering box installed in the Places of Pilgrimage:
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Provided that no such authorization shall be required for going near any donation/offering box for the bonafide purpose of placing any offering therein.
Foundation fund 30. (1) There shall be constituted a fund called "Places of Pilgrimage Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation Fund) which shall vest in and be administered by the Foundation Fund Committee under subsection (5).
(2) The Foundation Fund shall consist of all donations and contributions made by any person to the Places of Pilgrimage or in the name of any deity installed therein other than those made for any specific purpose and such other amounts as may be directed by the State Government.
(3) All amounts credited to the Foundation Fund shall be invested in long term fixed deposits with such bank or banks as the State Government may approve and shall always be kept so invested and no such fixed deposit shall be pledged or otherwise encumbered:
Provided that the State Government may permit such out of the Foundation Fund as they may fix to be utilized for any purpose of the temple as may specify.
(4) All amounts accruing by way of interest on such fixed deposits shall be credited to and form part of Foundation Fund constituted under this section.
(5) The Foundation Fund Committee shall consists of the following members:-
(a) the Chief Minister of the State of Sikkim who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Minister-in-Charge of Tourism and Civil Aviation who shall be the Vice-Chairman;
(c) the Secretary to the Government in Tourism and Civil Aviation Department;
(d) the Secretary to the Government in the Finance Department or his nominee who shall not be below the rank of a Joint Secretary;
(e) the Director/Administrator of the Places of Pilgrimage who shall be the Member Secretary.
(6) The Foundation Fund Committee shall conduct its business in such manner as they may determine.
(7) During the absence of the Chairman the Vice-Chairman shall act as and perform the functions of the Chairman:
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Provided that the Secretary to the Government in the Law Department shall act as and perform the functions of the Chairman during any period when both the offices of the Chief Minister and the Minister, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department remains vacant.
(8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, custom, usage or agreement, no person shall be entitled to any share out of the amount of donations or contributions to the Foundation Fund made under sub-section (2).
31. Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, no suit or proceeding shall lie in any Court against the State Government or against the Committee or the Director/Administrator for anything done or purported to be done by any of them under the provisions of this Act.
State Government Power of the 32. (1) Offences Subject to provisions of this Act, the general superintendence of the Places of Pilgrimage and its endowments shall vest in the State Government which may pass any order that may be deemed necessary for the proper maintenance or administration of the temple or its endowments or in the interest of the general public worshipping in the Places of Pilgrimage.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may call for and examine the records of the Director/Administrator or of the Committee in respect of any proceedings with a view to satisfy themselves as to the regularity of such proceeding or the correctness, legality or propriety of any decision or order made thereto and, if in any case, it appears to the State Government that any such decision or order should be modified, annulled, reversed or remitted for reconsideration, they may pass order accordingly:
33. Provided that the State Government may stay the execution of any such decision or order pending in exercise of their power under sub-section
(2) in respect thereof.
(1) Whenever any person having duties to perform in respect of the daily or periodical rituals of the Places of Pilgrimage or worship of the deity raises any claim or dispute and fails or refuses to perform such duties, knowing or having reasons to believe that the nonperformance of the said duties would cause delay in the performance of the rituals or worship or inconvenience or harassment to the public or any section thereof entitled to worship in the temple and willfully disobeys or fails to comply with the orders of the Director/ Administrator directing him to perform his duties without prejudice to the results of a proper adjudication of such claim or disputes, such person or any other person who abets such conduct shall be 15 guilty of an offence punishable on conviction with fine which may extend upto Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only.
(2) Whoever voluntarily causes obstruction by use of force or otherwise, .
to any person in the due performance of any puja or ritual which such person is entitled or authorized to perform, shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to RS.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both.
(3) Whoever not being authorized by the Committee or the Director/ Administrator interferes with the free moverner.t of visitors within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage or with any precautionary measures taken for their safety or convenience shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to RS.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both.
(4) Whoever,-
(a) not being the person entitled to perform any ritual or puja or to make any offering to any deity installed within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage, perform such ritual or puja or makes such offering; or
(b) forcibly enters into nay place within the Places of Pilgrimage when such entrance is prohibited under any law or custom or under any lawful order issued by the Committee or by the Director/Administrator; or
(c) takes inside the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage any article knowing that the taking of such article is prohibited under any law or custom or by any ceclaration made and published in the prescribed manner by the Committee with due regard to the prevailing custom, public health, morality or the religious sentiments of the public;
shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two months or with fine which may extend to Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred)only or with both.
(5) Whoever answers the call of nature at any place within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage other than that set apart for the purpose or enters the Places of Pilgrimage in a state of intoxication and conduct himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person or commits any act of indecency or uses obscene of abusive language within the premises of the Places of Pilgrimage shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred) only.
16 Offences to be cognizable Cognizance of offences Composition of offences Funds to be credited to Places of Pilgrimage Fund Regulations Power to make rules
34. Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person who is committing or who is reasonably suspected to have committed any offence under this Act.