Title - Shrine Board bans all commission counters on Vaishno Devi track

JAMMU, Jan 29: In a major decision aimed at simplifying the procedure of hiring ponywallahs/palkiwallahs/pithus by the pilgrims, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) today ordered disbanding of all counters on the track from Darshani Deodi in Katra to Vaishno Devi Bhawan, which were charging commission from the yatris, fleecing them.

Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SMVDSB issued an order to this effect today by implementing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC.

Official sources said Dr Bhandari has issued orders to prohibit the operators collecting commission/levies without jurisdiction on Mata Vaishno Devi track between Darshani Deodi and Bhawan with immediate effect.

Within hours after the SMVDSB issued the order for disbanding of illegal collection centres, police swung into action and removed all such points from the track, SSP Reasi Raghubir Singh said, adding the order has been strictly enforced.

SMVDSB CEO and Principal Secretary to Governor, Navin Choudhary told the Excelsior that there was no principle of tax collections without any jurisdiction in any part of the world.

"Under three principles of taxation, the taxation comes with responsibilities and duties, which were not being performed by the tax collectors. They never tried to regulate the system or address grievances of the pilgrims. This can't go on'', Mr Choudhary said.

Sources said the Shrine Board had also brought the matter to the notice of the Urban Development Minister Rigjin Jora and informed the senior police officers before issuing the order.

"It was being observed that some persons were operating/trying to operate on the track through counters or by sitting under sheds/open sky on the track between Darshani Deodi and Bhawan and collecting money/commission from ponywallahs/palkiwallahs/pithus/pilgrims, without any territorial jurisdiction or express permission from the Shrine Board'', sources said.

Some of these collection counters were being operated at Ban Ganga, Adh-Kunwari, Sanji Chat and Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Even after making full payment for hiring pony, pithu or palki at Katra or Bhawan or enroute, the persons at these counters were charging commission from the pilgrims leading to verbal duel between pilgrims and ponywallas, pithus etc.

"All these counters have been asked to pack up immediately and stop unauthorized collections from the pilgrims or ponywallas/palkiwallas/pithus'', sources said, adding that the pilgrims would have to pay only fixed charges for hiring the services.

According to sources, the Shrine Board had been receiving repeated complaints from the pilgrims visiting from all over the country about being fleeced and heavily overcharged for availing these services.

"This continued to be a source of regular tension and occasional unruly scenes on the track. The ponywallas/pithus were also feeling aggrieved of the activities at these counters, which even resulted in the counter at Ban Ganga being demolished by the pony/pithu/palkiwalas in the last week of December.

Dr. Ashok Bhan, DGP (Retired) and a member of the Shrine Board had also visited these counters during security review conducted by him. He had advised that these counters were not of any usefulness, besides being unauthorized on the track.

Considering all the aspects, the Additional CEO today issued a prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC today banning the continuation of any such operations on the track between Darshani Deodi and Bhawan with immediate effect.

It is pertinent to mention that the SMVDSB is a statutory body constituted by an Act of the J&K Legislature and has been entrusted with the responsibility of better management, administration and governance of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

"All its endowments, including the lands and buildings attached or appurtenant to the shrine, beginning from Katra up to the holy cave are under the administrative control of the Shrine Board'', sources pointed out.