No 'paid darshans' at Vaishno Devi shrine

Jammu, Jun 12 (UNI) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today change its mind about implementing ''paid darshan'' system for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi Shrine situated on Trikuta Hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The recently introduced ''paid darshan'' system has been withdrawn, while all modes of priorities have also been scrapped for out of queue 'darshans' at the holy cave shrine, official sources here said.

After interacting with the three-member committee set up to examine the issue, shrine board chairperson Governor lt. Gen S K Sinha said, ''The system was introduced on experiment basis, but respecting the popular demand, it has been dispensed with all sorts of priorities including the paid ones.'' However, lt. Gen Sinha said the board would soon devise a mechanism to provide such facilities to the staff of the shrine board, including members of security forces and some special categories.

''No blank slips will be issued as was being done previously, which had led to black marketing and corruption,'' he added.

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