Bans unethical practices in J&K; Officials say process started to remove illegal occupiers from shrines
Srinagar, Aug 17: In a first, the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has decided to end the past unethical practices at the shrines across the Union Territory, falling under its jurisdiction.
Notably, the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) had carried a details story on donations by people at shrines titled ‘Where does Kashmir's charity donations to shrines worth millions of rupees go'.
However, a formal order was issued by the recently established J&K Waqf Board, ordering complete ban on all unethical practices at shrines in J&K and said any dereliction of duties shall invite immediate disciplinary action.
“J&K Waqf Board has come into existence to look after the administrative affairs of inalienable Waqfs for charitable and religious purposes and in addition to the management of properties like Business Establishments, Orchards and providing highly subsidised/free education in Schools and Darul-Ulooms, J&K Waqf Board also controls and manages the affairs of major Shrines and Mosques across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and further J&K Waqf Board is in receipt of large number of complaints against some people receiving donations forcibly and through exploitative means at the Ziyarats. Despite coming from reasonably sound economic background, such people are permanently occupying particular spots within the shrines for their activities, and there are instances when such spots are being outsourced or contracted out against receipt of large sums of money, that violates the sacrosanctity of the Ziyarats,” reads the order issued by Tehsildar Waqf Board Ishtiyak Mohi-ud-din.
“Such unethical practices damage the sanctity of such sacred places, and are detrimental to the already strained finances of the J&K Waqf Board. Such pilferages are severely limiting the ability of the Waqf Board to perform basic duties of charity and carry out activities for the upliftment of the poor and disadvantaged groups of the society, and also limit the ability of Waqf to provide different facilities to the Zaireen and carry out infrastructural improvements at the Shrines,” it added.
“Such people have been repeatedly warned to desist from these activities, as it also sends a very wrong signal to the Zaireen, who are repeatedly requesting J&K Waqf Board to take stern action against such elements,” it further said.
“Now therefore, a complete ban is hereby ordered on all such unethical practices across the Shrines of J&K UT with immediate effect. Central Waqf Office shall also be verifying the claims of all those performing different religious activities within the Ziyarats of J&K UT. Executive Officers/Administrators and staff posted at Shrines/ Masjids are hereby directed to impose the ban strictly. Any non-compliance of the order be immediately referred to the Central Office, so that a complete ban is ordered on the entry of such elements into pious and sacred places like Ziyarats. Notices alongwith Helpline numbers be pasted at conspicuous places within Ziyarats requesting general public to inform about such elements. Any dereliction or laxity shown by any employee in this regard shall be viewed seriously and shall invite immediate disciplinary action,” it added.
Moreover, the officials from Waqf Board said that the process has been started to remove the Peers from the occupied places at shrines since Tuesday. “We are on it and all those who have occupied the places at shrines will be removed at earliest,” a top official said.
Meanwhile, the people from different walks of life have appreciated the move.
