Uttarakhand’s newly appointed Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has overturned the decision of CM Trivendra Singh Rawat to take over the management of 51 pilgrimage centers. The Chief Minister said that the traditions established by Adiguru Shankaracharya regarding Char Dham will be continued. He said that the 51 temples included in the Devasthanam board would be relieved of the board and the Devasthanam board would be reconsidered. Explain that 51 pilgrimage sites including Badrinath-Kedarnath-Yamunotri and Gangotri were under the direct control of the state government.
Trivendra Singh Rawat gave approval to Char Dham Devasthanam Management
As per the Act, the Chief Minister will be the Chairman of the Board, while a senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) will become the Chief Executive Officer. The new law provides for the dismissal of a priest if he is found involved in any ‘wrongdoing’. Ever since the government decided to introduce the bill, there was widespread outrage. Many priests had feared that the new system would curb their roles and duties that they and their families have been engaged in for decades. State Congress President Pritam Singh had then said that if his party came to power, the act would be repealed.
Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said that the traditions established by Adiguru Shankaracharya regarding Char Dham will be continued. The 51 temples included in the Devasthanam board will be relieved of the board and the Devasthanam board will be reconsidered. His government will seriously consider this and soon a meeting of the pilgrimage priests of the four dhams will be called.
Tirath Singh Rawat said that his government will not let anyone take away any authority. Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said that the arrangements made by the Shankaracharyas about the four dhams since ancient times will be fully followed. There will be no tampering, nor will there be any reduction in anyone’s rights. The Chief Minister said that I will do whatever is in my hand in this regard, I will not let the saints be disappointed.
