Dehradun. Today’s big news from Uttarakhand is that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday overturned the decision of the Trivendra government on the Chardham Devasthanam Board. Taking a big decision, Dhami announced the dissolution of the Devasthanam Board. Chardham Devasthanam Management Board came into existence two years ago during the Trivendra government. There was pressure on the government due to opposition from the pilgrim priests, rights holders and making the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party boards an issue. In the year 2019, former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had decided to form the Chardham Devasthanam Board on the lines of Shrine Board. Despite the opposition of the pilgrim priests, the government passed a bill from the house and made an act. The pilgrimage priests and rights holders of the Chardham came down on the movement, but the Trivendra government stood firm on its decision.

51 temples including Chardham were involved
The government’s argument was that 51 temples including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri Dham will come under the board, infrastructure development will be done for passenger facilities. Tirath Singh Rawat, who became the Chief Minister after the change of leadership in the state, had also talked about taking the decision of the Devasthanam Board according to the public sentiments, but during his tenure, the government could not move forward on the Devasthanam Board. Then after the change of leadership, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who became the Chief Minister, announced the formation of a high-level committee in view of the opposition of the pilgrimage priests.

The committee was constituted under the chairmanship of former MP Manohar Kant Dhyani. The pilgrim priests of the Chardham were also included in this committee. Now after examining the final report of the committee, the cabinet sub-committee also submitted its report to the government.

when what happened on the Devasthanam board

• Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Bill was approved on 27 November 2019.
• On 5 December 2019, the Devasthanam Management Bill was passed by the House.
• The Raj Bhavan approved the Devasthanam Bill on 14 January 2020.
• Appointed Chief Executive Officer in Devasthanam Board on 24 February 2020.
• Demonstration of pilgrimage priests in protest against Devasthanam Board from 24 February 2020
• On 21 July 2020, the High Court ruled to dismiss the PIL filed by Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy.
• On 15 August 2021, the CM announced to make Manohar Kant Dhyani the chairman of the high-level committee constituted on the Devasthanam Board.
• On October 30, 2021, nine members from Chardham were nominated to the high-level committee.
• On 25 October 2021, the high-level committee submitted the interim report to the government.
• On 27 November 2021, the pilgrim priests took out a protest rally in Dehradun to protest against the dissolution of the board.
• On 28 November 2021, the high-level committee submitted the final report to the Chief Minister.
• On 29 October 2021, the Cabinet Sub-Committee examined the report and submitted the report to the Chief Minister.