Nathdwara Temple Act, 1959
No: 13 Dated: Mar, 30 1959
The Nathdwara Temple Act, 1959
(Act No. 13 of 1959)
An Act to provide for the better administration and governance of the temple of Shri Shrinathji at Nathdwara.
Be it enacted by the Rajasthan State Legislature in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Nathdwara Temple Act, 1959.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions. - In this Act,unless the subject or context otherwise requires-
(i) "Board" means the Nathdwara Temple Board established and constituted under this Act,
(ii) "Endowment" means all property, movable or immovable belonging to or given or endowed in any name for the maintenance or support of the temple or for the performance of any service or charity connected therewith or for the benefit, convenience or comfort of the pilgrims visiting the temple, and includes-
(a) the idols installed in the temple,
(b) the premises of the temple,
(c) all jagirs, muafis and other properties, movable or immovable, wherever situate and all income derived from any source whatsoever, and standing in any name, dedicated to the temple or place for any religious, pious or charitable purposes under the Board or purchased from out of the temple funds, and all offerings and bhents made for and received on behalf of the temple,
but shall not include any property belonging to the Goswami personally although the same or income thereof might hitherto have been utilised in part or in whole in the service of the temple:
(iii) "Goswami" means the occupant for the time being of the gaddi of Shri Tilkayatji Maharaj of Nathdwara:
(iv) "person having interest" means a person who is entitled to attend at the performance of worship or service in the temple and includes the Board and the Chief Executive Officer:
(v) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act:
(vi) "Chief Executive Officer" means the Chief Executive Officer of the temple appointed under this Act:
(vii) "specific endowment" means any property, endowment or money invested for the performance of any particular service or of any particular charity connected with the temple:
(viii) "temple" means the temple of Shri Shrinathji at Nathdwara Rajsamand District and includes the temple of Shri Navnitpriyaji and Shri Madan Mohanlalji together with all additions thereto or all alterations thereof which may be made from time to time after the commencement of this Act.
3. Vesting of property. - The ownership of the temple and all its endowments including all offerings which have been or may hereafter be made shall vest in the deity of Shri Shrinathji and the Board constituted under this Act shall be entitled to their possession.
4. Administration to vest in Board. - (1) The administration of the temple and all its endowments shall vest in the Board constituted in the manner hereinafter provided.
(2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name of the Nathdwara Temple Board and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, and may sue or be sued in the said name.
5. Composition of the Board. - 1. (i) The Board shall consist of the President, the Collector of the Rajsamand District and eleven other members;
(ii) The Goswami shall be Ex-officio President of the Board, if he is not otherwise disqualified and is willing to serve as such:
(iii) The State Government shall nominate a Vice-President of the Board from amongst the members of the Board.
(2) A person shall not be eligible for appointment as the President or a member of the Board if-
(a) he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court, or
(b) he has been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude, or
(c) he has applied for being adjudicated an insolvent or is an undischarged insolvent, or
(d) he is a minor or a deaf-mute or suffering from leprosy, or
(e) he is an office-holder or a servant of the temple or is in receipt of any emoluments or perquisites from the temple, or
(f) he is interested in a subsisting contract for making any supplies to or executing any work on behalf of the temple or as legal practitioner for or against the temple, or
(g) he does not profess the Hindu religion or does not belong to the Pushti-Margiya Vallabhi Sampradaya:
Provided that the disqualification specified in clause (e) shall not apply to the Goswami if he is willing to serve as Ex- officio President of the Board and the disqualification specified in clause (g) shall not apply to the Collector.
(3) The Collector shall be an ex-officio member of the Board.
(4) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (1) the other members of the Board shall be appointed by the State Government so as to secure representation of the Pushti Margiya Vaishnavas from all over India.