SC asks Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to mull over issue of rehabiliting pony owners

A peculiar situation triggered by who would bear the annual cost of Rs 2.1 crore to rehabilitate pony owners at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, today prompted the Supreme Court to suggest to the shrine board to mull over levying a nominal charge of one rupee from each pilgrim.

The apex court, which was told by the Jammu and Kashmir government that the shrine board has declined to bear the expense, observed that 50,000 devotees visited the shrine daily and if a charge of even Rs one is levied on them, the money could be used for rehabilitation of pony and mule owners.

"Even if you (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board) charge Rs one for it, 1.80 crore people come there (annually). You take Rs one or Rs two from them and you will get so much amount. Pilgrims will be happy to give even Rs 100. You think over it," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.

"If you are having 50,000 people a day and suppose if each person gives Rs one only, you will make Rs 50,000 a day. Please think about it. You (board) cannot say 'I will make money and keep it in my pocket'," the bench said.

The issue cropped up when Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, who appeared for Jammu and Kashmir, said a cabinet meeting was held on April 24 and the policy of rehabilitation of pony and mule owners was discussed.

He said their rehabilitation would cost around Rs 2.1 crore annually and the shrine board has declined to bear this expense.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the shrine board, informed the bench that a new walking track to the shrine was ready and would be operational this month.

He said the issue was not about charging Rs one from the devotees and once the track open, mules might not be used there. "Mules are not my responsibility," he said while adding that the expenses of the shrine board was huge.

However, the bench observed, "but they (pony owners) were serving the pilgrims for so many years to take them to your place."