Deputy Commissioner of Endowments, after consulting the Hereditary Trustee and the persons interested settles the following scheme of administration for proper management of the institution.

 

 

SCHEME

 

1.       The Scheme shall be called, the scheme of administration of Shri Cuttack Chandi Temple, Cuttack City, district Cuttack and shall come into force on and from the date of its publication at the Temple and in Orissa Gazette.

 

2.       In the scheme, if not inconsistent with the context, the ‘Act’ means the Orissa Act II of 1952 and the rules framed thereunder as amended from time to time.  The Word ‘Net-Income’ means the Income remaining for expenditure after payment of Government and Public dues, such as contribution, audit charges and if there is any loan payable, 15 percent of the same.

          All other words and expressions used herein shall have the respective meaning assigned to them in the Act.

 

3.       The said institution with its endowments shall be administered by a Board of Trustee not exceeding 7 in number out of whom one shall be Hereditary Trustee, and another member shall be taken from among the Sevaks and the rest shall be appointed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments as far as practicable from among the Hindu public having high repute in the locality and preferably the retired Government servants.

          The Trustees so appointed shall hold the office for such period not exceeding 3 years as may be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

 

4.       The Board of Trustee shall be a body corporate and all suits and legal proceedings in favour or against the said Board or the institution shall be conducted in the name of an Executive Officer on behalf of the said Board or Institution.

 

5.       The Deputy Commissioner may remove any of the members of the Board, at any time on the grounds contained u/s. 28 of the O. H. R. E. Act should be find it necessary in the interest of the institution, and record a proceeding to the board.

 

6.       Any vacancy of vacancies occurring in the office of any of the Trustees during or at the end of the said or subsequent periods, shall be filled up by the Deputy Commissioner  subject to the condition that the provisions for filling up the vacancy of the Hereditary Trustee shall be as provided by the Act.

 

7.       Every meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the President of the Board.  The Hereditary Trustee shall be the President of the Board  and his absence from five consecutive meetings shall wipe out his right to be the President of the Board.  In that event the Board shall elect a President from amongst the members of the Board.

 

8.       In case any Trustee is found to remain absent in meetings of the Trust Board on three consecutive occasions despite notice to attend the meetings, he shall cause to be a trustee with effect from such date as will be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments unless there are reasonable grounds for not attending the meeting to be satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

         (a)      The meeting of the Board shall be convened by the Executive Officer on giving adequate notice to the members.  Three clear days notice will be considered adequate excepting in emergencies when notice of twenty-four hours should be considered adequate.

 

          (b)     The Executive Officer will be ex-officio Secretary of the Board.

 

          (c)      The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be five.

          (d)     If there is any urgent item of business in the agenda of any particular meeting, of which previous notice is given and which cannot be postponed for the next meeting, the members in attendance even if, they are less than five can get through the business, provided if they differ on any particular issue, the same will be referred to the Deputy Commissioner whose decision shall be final.

 

9.       The Board shall meet at least once in a month, within the premises of the institution for passing the account of the previous month and for considering any other matter concerned with the management of the institution.

 

10.     All questions arising at a meeting of the Board, shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present there at and in every case of equality of votes, the President or the person presiding shall have the right of exercising a casting vote.

 

11.     The meeting as envisaged in Clause 8 (a) must be held by the 10th of the month.  If the said meeting is not convened by the Executive Officer by the 10th of the month for any reason, any four or more members of the Board by giving three days notice to other members may convene the meeting.  In case no such meeting is convened either by the Executive Officer or by the members within the 20th day of the month, the Deputy Commissioner or any person authorizedby him shall have the power to call such a meeting and such meeting shall be deemed to be a meeting called by the Board and in such meeting no quorum will be necessary.

 

12.     The proceeding of the meeting held shall be recorded in a book to be kept for the purpose and shall be signed by all members present.  Copies of the Resolution shall be submitted to be Deputy Commissioner for approval within a week of such Resolutions.

 

13.     If for any reason the Board does not properly function due to any internal misunderstanding the Executive Officer or any person appointed by the Deputy Commissioner shall manage the institution as Interim Trustee.

 

14.     The Trust Board will prepare a set of rules of management concerned with the work and conduct of the office and other employees of the institution and of those who work within the precints of the institution and enforce the same after obtaining approval of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

 

15.     The Trust Board may take such other measures as would be necessary in the interest of the institution for the proper worship of the deity, for maintaining the sanctity and beauty of the place, for the safety and convenience of the visitors and worshipers, for propagation of spiritual knowledge and religious belief and for provision for charity.

 

16.     In the management of the affairs or the institution, preparation and submission of dittam (or scale of expenditure) annual budget, maintenance of the accounts, investment of surplus funds, incurring of loan and alienation of the lands of the institution, the Board shall be bound by the provisions of the Act and the rules framed there under and all such lawful directions as may be issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments from time to time.

 

16. (a)         The Board shall maintain written dittam ( Scale of Expenditure ) for daily nities, festivals and special puja on festive days and give the same for approved of Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

17. (a)         The Executive Officer shall be appointed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

(b)         He shall be paid out of the funds of the institution, such salary as may from time to time be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

(c)         He shall furnish cash or personal security or both as would be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.

(d)         The Deputy Commissioner may suspend, reduce to a lower rank, remove, dismiss or fine or disallow payment of monthly salary for unauthorized absence from duty the Executive Officer for neglect of duty, breach of trust, incapacity, misconduct and disobedience of lawful orders.

18. (a)         All the employees of the institution shall be appointed by the Deputy Commissioner who may delegate his powers to the Executive Officer or Board of Trustee.

(b)         The employees shall be paid out of the fund of the institution such salary as may from time to time to be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.

(c)         Any employee may be required to furnish cash or personal security or both as would be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.

(d)         Subject to the approval of the Board, the Executive Officer may suspend, reduce to a lower rank, remove or fine or dismiss any employee or officer holder of the institution for neglect of duties, breach of trust, incapacity misconduct or disobedience of lawful orders.  The Board may delegate powers to the Executive Officer to fine any employee not exceeding Rupees ten for neglect of duty, unauthorised absence from duty or disobedience of his orders.

 

19.     The salary of the Executive Officer including all the subordinate staff shall be paid only on approval of the Trust Board every month.

 

20.     The Executive Officer and the employee shall be whole time servants of the institutions and shall not undertake any work unconnected with their office without the previous permission of the Deputy Commissioner.

21.(a)          The Executive Officer shall be responsible for the safe custody of all records and properties including cash and valuables of the institution and shall arrange for the proper collection of the offerings made in or at the institution.

(b)     All valuables shall be kept under double lock in custody of the Executive Officer and the president of the Board.

(c)      Subjects to the provision of the Act, the Executive Officer shall be responsible for submission of all returns prescribed in the Act and Rules framed thereundeer and for making payment of all dues to the Endowment fund as directed by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments, from time to time.

(d)     The Executive Officer with the approval of the Board may make temporary provision, if and when necessary, for carrying on duties of the Pujaries, Archaks and of the other persons in charge of the performance of religious rites and such servants shall be under the disciplinary control of the Executive Officer, excepting the Hereditary Sevaks.

(e)      The Executive Officer may make temporary provision if and when necessary, for carrying on the duties of Hereditary Office holders if they are not executed by such office holders willfully or due to his death or absence.  Such a provision when made shall be reported to the Board in the next meeting.

(f)      The Executive Officer shall take with the approval of the Board, necessary steps to recover lands and others properties from whomsoever is in possession thereof, incumbrances created by them, or any person under then if necessary, by filling suits and cases.

(g)     The Executive Officer shall furnish to the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments the information as required under Section 15 of the Act.

(h)     By the first week of January each year the Executive Officer shall submit to the Deputy Commissioner a report on the administration of the institution and endowments for the proceeding year, briefly indicating the improvements effected to the institution and its financial position.

 

22.     With prior approval of the Board, the Executive Officer may:-

(a)      Lease out the lands and buildings of the institution for a period not exceeding 5 years.

(b)     Call for tenders for works of supplies and accept such tenders.

(c)      In cases of emergency direct the execution of any work or the doing of any act which is not provided in the budget for the year or not approved in the proceeding of the meeting of the Board, the immediate execution or doing of what is in his opinion necessary for the preservation of the properties of the institution or for the service or for safety of the pilgrims resorting to the institution or for the discharge of the seba puja of the deities in the institution and may direct that the expenses of the execution of such work or doing the act shall be paid from the funds of the institution.

   Action so taken, works so executed, expenses so incurred shall be placed before the Board of the Trustees in the meeting held immediately thereafter for approval.

 

23.     Failure (i) to submit the returns prescribed in the Act or the Rules framedthere under, (ii) to pay the dues to the Endowment fund, (iii) to send copies of Resolution, (iv) to call meetings of Board every month will be considered as serious neglect of duty calling for disciplinary action by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

 

24.     The Budget shall be prepared by the Executive Officer in consultation with the Trust Board and submitted for approval of the Deputy Commissioner.

 

25.     The Executive Officer shall before the end of December every year prepare in the prescribed Form a budget estimate, of the receipts and expenditure of the institution for the following financial year and place it before the Board, who shall furnish it to the Deputy Commissioner with their recommendation, if any, by the 31st January following for approval.

 

26.     The Budget shall provide an expenditure not exceeding 30 per cent towards nities and seba puja and not exceeding 20 per cent for periodical festivals of the net income of the institution.

 

27.     The establishment charges shall in no event exceed 20 per cent of the net income of the institution without the previous sanction of the Deputy Commissioner.

 

28.     The Budget may provide for a sum not exceeding 5 per cent of the net income of the institution, for the purpose of effecting petty repairs and white washing and for capital construction including works of utility and for a sum not exceeding 2 per cent for charity and other allied purpose.

 

29.     The Budget may also provide a sum not exceeding 3 per cent of the net income of the institution for arranging ‘Stotra-patha’, Puran Patha, Periodical Yangya , meetings for Sastra-Charcha and such other religious affairs.

(a) Puja may also be provide a sum not exceeding 2% of the net income of the institution to educate the future generation of the Hereditary Sevaks specially on Saktitantra and Karmakanda.

 

30.     A sum not exceeding 2% of the net income shall be set apart for meeting any unforeseen liabilities and the balance provided in the budget is closing balance.

31. (a)         No expenditure shall be allowed to be incurred by the Executive Officer for meeting personal expenses of the Hereditary Trustee without prior approval of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

(b)        The Executive Officer may incur expenditure up to Rs. 5,000 on litigation during a year with approval of the Board of Trustee and no further expenditure on this count during a year can be incurred without prior sanction of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.

 

32.     The Accounts of the institution may be made available for inspection by any person having interest, on his giving 3 days notice in writing to the Executive Officer and on paying a fee of Rs. 5 per diem or part thereof.

33. (a)         All offerings in cash, kind, or livestock made to the deity shall form part of Endowment and the Executive Officer shall take possession of the same.  The Executive Officer shall make such arrangements as are necessary to receive such offerings with the prior approval of the Board.  Printed receipts are to be issued to the donors for all offerings.

(b)        A scale of fees for the various nities/puja to be performed for the devotees shall be laid down by the Board and hung at a prominent place of the institution.

 

34.     All gifts or offerings (other than Bhog) to the deity, shall be received by the Executive Officer from the devotees on grant of proper receipt.  The Executive Officer shall make arrangement for ceremonious offering or adornment of the same to the deity through the Sevak or Sevaks concerned where after the same shall be returned by the concerned Sevak or Sevaks in course of the day to the Executive Officer for safe custody.

(a) The E. O. shall open the donation box fixed inside the temple in the presence of one of the members of the Trust Board, one of the Sevaks and in the presence of one of the gentleman of the locality.

 

35.     No Sevak will be allowed to place any Thala or receptable before the deity for collection of offerings by devotees or worshippers.  A Sevak or Sevaks are entitled to receive any Bhog Dakhina or Paduka Dakhina voluntarily offered to them by any devotee.  No Sevak shall demand or insist for any Bhog-dakhina or Paduka-dakhina from any devotee and such demand or insistence shall amount to misconduct within the meaning of Section 32 of the O. H. R. E. Act.

36.     The Sevak or Sevaks on duty shall be intitled to the value of 25% of the gold and silver ornaments offered to the deity and 40% of the value of other offerings including cash received by the Executive Officer.  There shall be a quarterly assessment of the value of all offerings to the deity by the Trust Board and the share of the Sevaks shall be paid to them immediately.

 

37.     All funds of the institution shall be kept in any Nationalised Bank or in Postal Savings Bank and transactions shall be operated jointly by the President and the Executive Officer of the Institution.  No amount from fixed Deposit or Term Deposit in any Bank shall be withdrawn by the President or Executive Officer without counter signature of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments.  No counter signature of the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments will be necessary for the purpose of extending the period of such deposit.

 

38.     If for any reasons, the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments is satisfied that the institution can be properly managed without appointing a whole time Executive Officer, the Deputy Commissioner shall have power to appoint one of the willing persons of the Trust Board as Managing Trustee, who will exercise the same power and do the same functions of the Executive Officer, as provided in this scheme.

 

39.     Sava as expressly provided in this scheme, the Board of Trustees shall have all the rights and powers and shall be liable to discharge all the duties provided in the Act and Rules there under.

 

40.     In case of any doubt or ambiguity arising out of any the aforesaid provisions of the scheme it shall be decided by the Deputy Commissioner of Endowments and such decision shall be final.

 

41.     The Deputy Commissioner of Endowments reserve the right to add, modify or alter any of the above provisions, if so needed in the interest of the institution, subject to the provisions of the Act.

 

 

                                                          Deputy Commissioner of Endowments,

                                                                       Odisha, Bhubaneswar