Chapter VI FUNDS OF THE DEVASTHAN TRUST

1. (1) The Devasthan Trust, shall have its own Fund to be called "Shree Shanaishwar Devasthan Trust Fund" which shall vest in the Lord Shani.
2. (2) The following shall form part of, or be paid into, the said Trust Fund,-
   • (a) all funds vested in the deity by virtue of the provisions of section 3;
   • (b) all sums received by way of offerings, gifts or donations to the deity or by way of Puja charges of any nature or by way of sale proceeds by auction of such things received in kind;
   • (c) income derived from the movable and immovable properties of the Trust and the proceeds of sale, lease or other transfer or mortgage of any such properties;
   • (d) any contributions or grants made to the Devasthan Trust by Government or by any local authority, trust or other institution, party or person;
   • (e) any sums due to the Devasthan Trust and recovered by the Committee;
   • (g) any fees, fines and penalties, if any, recovered, and all recoveries made by the Committee, under this Act; and
   • (h) all other sums including licence fee and lease rent received or collected by the Committee or a member or officer or employee thereof, for or on behalf of the Devasthan Trust.
3. (3) All monies and other valuable articles belonging to the Trust Fund shall be deposited or kept only in the Nationalized Bank as defined in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (II of 1934) or be invested in "the public securities" as defined in clause (12) of section 2 of the Public Trusts Act, and in accordance with such guidelines as may be issued by the State Government, from time to time.
4. (4) The Trust Fund shall be operated by an office bearer or a member of the Managing Committee and an officer of the Committee as are authorized by the Committee in this behalf in the manner and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed.

1. (1) The Trust Fund shall, subject to the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), be utilised or expended by the Committee for all or any of the following purposes, namely:-
   • (a) the maintenance, management and administration of the Devasthan Trust and of its properties;
   • (b) training of sevaks to perform religious worship and ceremonies in the Devasthan;
   • (c) the conduct and performance of the rituals, worship, ceremonies and festivals in the Devasthan Trust according to the customs and usages;
   • (d) providing facilities and amenities to the devotees for darshan of the deity and for offering prayers or performing any religious service or ceremony in the Devasthan Trust;
   • (e) to provide meals to the devotees and to run Annachhatra;
   • (f) for propagating the teachings of the deity, or religious tenets in any Hindu religious institution;
   • (g) repayment of any sum borrowed by the Committee;
   • (h) any sum required to satisfy any judgement, decree or award of any court, tribunal or any authority;
     • (i) the payment of any taxes, rent, compensation, charges and other sum payable by the Devasthan Trust under any law for the time being in force;
   • (j) for development of the properties of the Devasthan Trust; or for acquisition of movable or immovable properties;
   • (k) construction and maintenance of rest houses, Dharmashalas or dormitories for the accommodation and use of the devotees; and
   • (l) for fulfilling the duties and powers specified in section 15.

1. (1) There shall be constituted a separate fund to be called the Management Fund, which shall vest in, and be, under the control of, the Committee.
2. (2) Having regard to the balance, if any, available in the Management Fund, there shall be placed to the credit of this Fund, every year, such sum, not exceeding ten per cent of the approximate gross annual income of the Trust in the last preceding year, as may be fixed by the Committee, with the approval of the State Government. The State Government may, at any time, if found necessary, direct any additional sum to be credited to this Fund from the Trust Fund in any year.
3. (3) The Management Fund shall, subject to any general or special order of the State Government, be applied to-
   • (a) the payment of travelling and daily allowances to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and other members of the Committee;
   • (b) the payment of salaries, allowances and other sums payable to the Executive Officer, other officers and employees of the Committee;
   • (c) the payment of any expenses lawfully incurred by the Committee or any office bearer or member or officer or employee, in the exercise of their powers and performance of their duties and functions under this Act.
4. (4) The Management Fund shall be operated in same manner as the Trust Fund is operated under sub-section (4) of section 25.

The Committee may, install one or more receptacles such as Hundi or Cash Box or both at such place or places in the Devasthan or within the precincts thereof as it may think fit for placing of offerings by the pilgrims and devotees visiting the Devasthan.