Centre dissolves Dargah Committee on court orders

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Pursuant to the Delhi High Court orders the Dargah committee at the Dargah Sharif Ajmer, accused of financial bungling, has been dissolved by the Central Government and the 'Nazim' (administrator) appointed by the court to probe the case will place before it the committee report on September 26.

Nazim Ahmed Raza appointed by the court on August 17 will produce the inquiry report of the committee probing the mismanagement and other financial bungling by the management of the Dargah Sharif.

The matter will come up for hearing before the division bench of Justices T S Thakur and Veena Birbal on September 26.

According to the petitioner the Dargah committee with its nine members including A H Khan (MP from West Bengal) Prince Abdul Ali, Prof Mohammed Suhail Tirmiji, Prof Mohd Ibrahim, Haji Hafiz Vakil Ahmed, Gole Ismail Moilim, Badruddin Ghulam Muhiuddin and Mohammed Ilias, has been dissolved by the Central Government and a fresh committee was yet to be formed.

The Government on the last date of hearing on August 17 had sought more time to table the inquiry report of the bungling aspect in the day to day finances of the Dargah and also the donations received by the devotees.

The court after hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Shashi Pandey of NGO 'Hum Apke Hain' had alleged large scale financial bungling at the Dargah. The Dargah committee had appointed a seven-member committee to probe the charges. It was headed by Ghayyur-E-Alam of Central Wakf Council who is also a member of Maulana Azad Educational Foundation.

Ms Pandey demanded a probe in the mismanagement of funds and setting up of modern educational and vocational centres to eradicate illiteracy.

She also sought removal of unauthorised construction and encroachment from outside the Dargah.

The Government in its affidavit had stated earlier that remedial steps had been taken to improve the conditions at the Dargah.

Ms Pandey had also filed a rejoinder in the court stating that Dargah Sharif in Ajmer and Rajasthan was governed in accordance with the provisions of the Dargah Khawaja Sahab Act 1955 and its bye laws 1958.

This Act came to force after the nefarious designs and illegal activities of chowkidars, servitors, khadims and trespassers were discovered. The Home Ministry after taking into consideration the crucial recommendations of then Justice Ghulam Hussain of Allahbad High Court Committee made the act of Dargah Khaja sahab Act 1955.

Thousands of devotees throng the Dargah everyday and offerings in the form of gold, silver, dollars, pounds, cheques, drafts, chadars and cash are made there. As these offerings are for the betterment of the society, no worthwhile project was being run by the management committee so far.

The petitioner states that the Dargah is in chaotic condition with lots of garbage and no toilet facilities around. Shops were being run inside it and innocent pilgrims were being attacked by the Khadims. There was no proper security and the pilgrims were being robbed of their cash and jewellery, the PIL added.

UNI