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Amit Bajaj, Advocate

Jammu and Kashmir government said on 10th June, 2010 that Rs 2,000 would be charged as entry fee per vehicle carrying pilgrims to the cave shrines of Mata Vaishnodevi and Amarnath for a period of 3 days.

According to a notification issued by the government under Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1957, the vehicles carrying passengers to Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra would be charged Rs 2,000 at entry point for a period of 3 days and after that Rs 2,000 will be charged per day.

Similarly, the vehicles carrying people for Amarnath Yatra will be charges Rs 2,000 at the entry point for a period of 7 days and after 7 days Rs 2,000 would be charged per day.

I feel such tax should not be imposed on the pilgrims, the pilgrims will help increase revenue of the state anyways, but increasing revenue by imposing such tax is not a good idea.

I don’t understand what can be the purpose of such tax (the government have named it as entry fees). It seems to me as violative of fundamental right of freedom of religion.

Taxes are imposed for the welfare of Public at large. But taxes should not be confiscatory in nature so as to become violative of the purpose for which it is imposed.

The govt may take plea that it’s imposed for the welfare of the pilgrims and to provide some facilities to them or for maintenance of the pilgrimages. No such tax exists in any other state in India on visit to any other religious place. Tax seems to be discriminatory to minor community in the state.

The state of J&K has imposed Rs 2000 on every vehicle carrying pilgrims for 3 days for Yatra to Vaishnodevi and for 7 days on Amarnath Yatra. I think it’s too much and would discourage the poor people from visiting the pilgrimages.

Such tax should be opposed and be removed

Note: The views expressed are only personal views of the Author

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0 Comments

  1. vijay says:

    Govt of J & K , should always remember that the Almighty God has blessed & chosen this place ,so that Indians from other states can enjoy natural ,spiritual,social beauty existing in J & K state .let others be welcomed with open arms & not biting teeth.these others have contributed a lot to make your state a peaceful state.
    Even south Indian states have not imposed such entry tax.Improve state by good governance & eradication of corruption rather than by imposing entry tax.

  2. jayashree says:

    This is india, incredible india !!!
    IPL matches are exempt from (entertainment) tax in one state
    AND
    Pilgrims are taxed for entry to holy places of worship, in another state.
    Where is the country heading to ???
    Only the Lord Almighty can save India

  3. Dinesh says:

    This shows the true color of the so called democratically elected govt of J&K..
    I request the central govt to withdraw the subsidy to the Haj Yatra and Rajasthan Govt should levi Rs. 2000 per day for visiting the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.. What do you say Mr. Omar Abdullah?

  4. Gautam says:

    If the J&K Govt.imposed such tax on pilgrims of all communities, this is acceptable. If this is meant only for the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi or Amarnath, belonging to one community this is discriminatory and provocative. Rest of India is interested in the welfare of J&K and strongly feel that it is the part of united India. Under these circumstances, such levy is biased and unproductive which causes the deflated revenue to the government. Appeals to the Honourable Chief Minister of J&K State to act uniformly without biased mind/thoughts.

  5. Ram Tirath says:

    It is wrong. If there is any justification with the State Govt. that should be applied to all irrespective of religion, caste, community and purpose of visit.

  6. Sanjay says:

    Mata is kind to her devotees. She will set right the misdeeds of powerful wrongdoers. If they are not afraid, they will face the wrath of the goddess.

  7. CMA. R.LGARG - FICWA says:

    THE CENTRAL GOVT SHOULD ADVISE ALL STATES THAT THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY ACTION OR DECISION WHICH EFFECTS THE PEOPLE OF OTHER STATES , PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS GIVEN BY OUR HOLY CONSTITUTION. FAILING WHICH THERE WILL BE MANY PILs FILED IN THE COURTS WHICH WILL UNNECESSARY INCREASE THE BURDEN OF HIGH AND SUPREME COURTS WHICH ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED. SIMILARLY UP IS IGNORING THE CENTRAL ACTS e.g. COMPANIES ACT AND INCOME TAX ACT AND CREATING ITS OWN RULES AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE CENTRAL ACTS.
    THESE MATTERS MUST BE LOOKED INTO BY HIGHEST AUTHORITIES TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PUBLIC AND ELIMINATE CORRUPTION. THESE ARE MY VIEWS. PL COMMENT

  8. Deshpande M says:

    Can any State levy such tax,as per constitution of india. whether a person visiting as tourist, whether state gov.wants to reduce the flow of tourist to the state. state should take the decision on ecomonic ground and not politacal .

  9. Prabhat Saxena says:

    It is really ridiculous. It looks to be coming out straight form the script of “Jodha Akbar”. These laws were then also fought by the masses and today also they shall be fought.
    I think the Govt. of Jammu must act such that at least they do not disturb the religious sentiments of Hindu’s ( even if they are not minorities). It looks to be more secretly planned for a growing battle.

  10. Anil Gupta says:

    This kind of tax is similer to “JAZIA”. AND it divided the world into muslim & Non-muslim. let us go for finish this kind of persons.

  11. K.Prakash Babu says:

    If the J&K Govt.imposed such tax on pilgrims of all communities, this is acceptable. If this is meant only for the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi or Amarnath, belonging to one community this is discriminatory and provocative. Rest of India is interested in the welfare of J&K and strongly feel that it is the part of united India. Under these circumstances, such levy is biased and unproductive which causes the deflated revenue to the government. Appeals to the Honourable Chief Minister of J&K State to act uniformly without biased mind/thoughts.

  12. Suresh Bakare says:

    The amount is bit unreasonable and brought down. The state do require funds for upkeep of road, Police force, infrastructure facilities. State of Jand K is not that rich to do all these at the cost of its resident citizens. In Maharastra you travel in any direction there is looting. check for Bombay Pune Express way or Paud road, Pune cantonment cess!! No body complains abt it.

  13. D.R. SONI says:

    Can J & K Govt. dare charge such entry fee for the muslim pilgrims going to Hazratbal or Haryana & Punjab Govt. dare charge such entry fee for pilgrims to Harminder Saheb or Goa Govt. for pilgrims to Bosilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa ?
    It is the wrong policy of Central Government i.e. “Tushtikaran of Muslim votes”. The democratic educated people of the country should take care of such problems.

  14. Ramnik Kanji says:

    The tax imposed by the state of J & K on the Hindu pilgrims as the entry tax should be immediately abolished. this is an injustice on the Hindu pilgrims. Our Central Government is providing the Subsidy of 836 Crores to the HAJ pilgrims. If the J & K government does not ablosih this tax then the government must immediately curtail the subsidy on the HAJ pilgrims. This reminds me of those stories heard from my grand parents that there use to be the tax on pilgrims during the regime of Moughals and other foreign rulers in India. Lets see what the Central Government does on this issue, or as always, let the Hindus only suffer. I think the same is not there in Pakistan also. Total Shame on Abdullah….

  15. Vaibhav says:

    We should not encourage state govt. sponsored taliban rule.
    This is fundamentally wrong & can lead to spiral of issues followed by other states.
    Hope better sense will prevail soon.

  16. ASHOK SHAH says:

    Even Badshah Akbar removed such taxes on the pilgrimage when it was brought to its notice. I hope good sense will prevail on the Government and will do away with this type of tax immediately.

  17. kumarashok says:

    You are right,

    I think this is a kind of conspiracy. Central Government and public should oppose such taxes which are against a religion. Even Central Government himself provide the subsidy for travel to makka madina to muslims. then why this rubbish tax for vaishno devi and amarnath yatra

  18. Ram says:

    Although it looks as a burden, we should look into it in a broaden outlook. Pilgrims and Transport Buses leaves lots of mess around. By imposing this tax Govt. will able to clean the mess created by the pilgrims. Secondly Roads are not meant for heavy traffic within a short period of time. So maintenance of roads also needs money. There is nothing wrong in it. Presently every State Govt. started collecting ONE TIME MOTOR VEHICLE TAX. This money eaten away by the Govt. in short time. But if every year the vehicle is subjected to check and Tax is levied then there would be control on Motor Vehicles its owners and also money for Govt. every year.

  19. Dinesh says:

    This type of tax are supposed to be on specific religion and also violation of fundamental right of an indian. in india an indian is a piligrim and required to pay taxes to visit their/his holi/worship places is ridiculous.

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