(1) The CEO or any other person authorised by him/her in this behalf, may with due regard to the religious practices and usages of the Char Dham and Devasthanams, inspect all moveable and immovable property belonging to the Devasthanams and all records, correspondence, plans, accounts and other documents for the purpose of satisfying himself/herself that the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under are duly carried out and it shall be the duty of the trustee or priest of such Devasthanams and all officers working under him/her, his/her agent and any person having concern Page 13 in the administration thereof to afford all such assistance and facilities as may be necessary or reasonably required in regard to such inspection, and also to produce any such moveable property or document for inspection, as required.
(2) For the purpose of inspection as aforesaid the inspecting authority shall, subject to the local practice, custom or usage may enter at any reasonable time the premises of Char Dham Devasthanams or any place of worship covered under the Act.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise any person to enter the premises or place referred to in sub section (2) or any part thereof unless such person professes Hindu religion or the religion to which the premises or place belongs.
Vesting of certain properties in the Board
22. All properties belonging to Char Dham Devasthanams to which this Act applies, on the date of commencement of this Act, that are in the possession or under the superintendence of the Government, Zila Panchayat, Zila Parishad, Municipality, property in the Board or any other local authority or in the possession or superintendence of any company, society, organisation, institutions or other person or any committee, superintendent appointed by the Government, shall, on the date on which the Board is or is deemed to have been constituted or members are or are deemed to have been appointed under this Act stand, transferred to the Board and all assets vesting in the Government, local authority or person aforesaid and all liabilities subsisting against such Movement, local authority or person on the said date shall, 1 {devolve on the Chardham and shall be maintained by the Board}:
2 {Provided that the Board may further acquire land in or around the vicinity of the religious Devasthanam and other places as it would deem proper for its better development, in favour of the Chardham.} Vesting of immovable properties of Char Dham Devasthanams covered under this Act