PNBMT appeals Govt to pass Shrines Bill

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, the nodal organization of the Hindus of Kashmir for the enactment of the Shrine Bill for preservation of Temple heritage of Kashmir has asked the Government to pass the Bill drafted by the Drafting Committee of the exiled Hindus.
Speaking at a special meeting of PNBMT Bill Committee convened for the purpose, Dr R L Bhat spokesperson of the Trust informed that the Bill had been drafted by the community and presented to the then PDP-coalition Government, when the Government asked the community to make suggestions for the Shrine Bill in 2007.
The draft was prepared by a committee of legal luminaries and social activists headed by Justice (Retd.)  B L Bhat comprised of Judge (Retd)  B L Saraf, advocates Janki Nath Bhat, Kashmiri Lal Bhat, Chief Prosecuting Officer (Retd), Bansi Lal Pandita, social activist Dr R L Bhat,  Surinder Amberdar and  H L Bhat. The draft was presented to the then Revenue Secretary  Masuud Samoon in March 2007.
Those who spoke at the meeting including A N Pandita, R L Bhat, Manmohanji Thaploo, Roshan Lal Pandita, Shiban Kaibri,  Kashmiri Lal Bhat and Rohit Bhat emphasized that both the hope that the Shrine Bill would finally be enacted as both the parties PDP and BJP have been with the community and have supported the struggle for the Bill.
Endorsing the Bill PNBMT members said that for unknown reasons the previous Government had bye passed this meticulously prepared bill and said that the draft bill answered the aspirations of the stake holders. The draft bill ensured that a democratically elected Shrine Board would be put in place to look after the preservation and management of the temples and shrines of Hindus of Kashmir in a transparent manner and be answerable to the whole community of the Hindus of Kashmir.
The meeting formulated a comprehensive plan to take forward the struggle for the enactment of the bill. The PNBMT members also finalized the publication of the long awaited book on Shrine of Kashmir prepared by Dr R L Bhat on behalf of the Trust with the aid and inputs from a large body of community members spread over all the ten districts of the valley.

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