Parliament Question: Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4520 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025 “HAZRAT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISHTI DARGAH”

4520. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of Minority Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) the current physical, religious and administrative status of the world renowned Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah located in Ajmer;

(b) whether any permanent committee has been constituted for the maintenance, cleanliness, security, management and facilities for devotees at the Dargah;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the process of its constitution, jurisdiction and functioning;

(d) whether the Ajmer Dargah has been facing various administrative issues over the years including irregularities, staff shortages and lack of transparency in donation management;

(e) if so, whether any time-bound plan has been formulated by the Government to address these issues;

(f) whether the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has prepared any audit report related to the Dargah during the last ten years and if so, the summarised details thereof;

(g) whether the structural condition of the Dargah has become dilapidated; and

(h) if so, the departments/agencies that are responsible for its renovation/repair work including the plans formulated for this purpose? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c) The Dargah Khwaja Saheb (DKS) Act, 1955 has been enacted for the proper administration of the Dargah Khwaja Saheb, Ajmer and the endowment of the Dargah. Dargah Khwaja Saheb is administered, controlled and managed by Dargah Committee consisting of not less than five and not more than nine members all of them from Hanafi Muslims appointed by Central Government.

As per Section 6 of the DKS Act, a member of the Committee shall hold the office for the period of 5 years from his date of appointment. As per Section 7 of the Act, the Committee shall elect the President and Vice President. The powers and duties of the Committee are enumerated under

Section 11 of Act –

(a) to administer, control and manage the Durgah Endowment;

(b) to keep the buildings within the boundaries of the Dargah Sharif and all buildings, houses and shops comprised in the Durgah Endowment in proper order and in a state of good repairs;

(c) to receive all money and other income of the Durgah Endowment;

(d) to see that the Endowment funds are spend in the manner desired by the donors;

(e) to pay salaries, allowances and perquisites and make all other payments due out of, or charges on, the revenues or income of the Durgah Endowment.

(f) to determine the privileges of the Khadims and to regulate their presence in the Durgah by the grant to them of licences in that behalf, if the Committee thinks it necessary so to do;(g) to define the powers and duties of the Advisory Committee;

(h) to determine the functions and powers, if any, which the Sajjadanashin may exercise in relation to the Durgah;

(i) to appoint, suspend or dismiss servants of the Durgah Endowment;

(j) to make such provision for the education and maintenance of the indigent descendants of KhawajaMoin-ud-din Chishti and their families and the indigent Khadims and their families residing in India as the Committee considers expedient consistently with the financial position of the Durgah;

(k) to delegate to the Nazim such powers and functions as the Committee may think fit;

(l) to do all other such things as may be incidental or conducive to the efficient administration of the Durgah.

(d) & (e) As per the DKS Act 1955, the administration of the Dargah is vested with the Dargah Committee which is empowered to manage the affairs of the Dargah, ensure transparency in donations and appointment of the required staffs for the upkeep and maintenance of the Dargah.

(f) Yes, Sir. The audit of the accounts of the Dargah Committee are entrusted to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India and the summary of pending observations made by C&AG from 2013-14 to 2022-23 is enclosed (Annexure-1).

(g) & (h) Certain portions of the Dargah’s structure have shown signs of deterioration, as the monument is over 700 years old. Nazim, DKS has been directed to immediately take necessary steps for repair/renovation of the structures and ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims.

*****Annexure-1 [Translated Version of Original documents in Hindi, if any doubt, the Hindi version will prevail] Part-III (Follow-up Action on Outstanding Paras of Previous Inspection Reports) Inspection Report Year 2013-14

1. Absence of eviction of encroachers who had taken unauthorized possession of Dargah properties. [Para No. 1, Part-II(b)]

2. Loss of ₹43.31 lakh due to operation of Khwaja Model School and non-recovery of outstanding fees amounting to ₹1.85 lakh. [Para No. 4(a), Part-II(b)]

3. Blocking of ₹4.76 lakh due to commencement of construction work without obtaining approval from Municipal Corporation. [Para No. 8, Part-II(b)] Inspection Report Year 2014-15

4. Loss of revenue of ₹48.00 lakh due to non-letting of vacant properties on rent. [Para No. 1, Part-II(b)]

5. Non-deduction of TDS amounting to ₹18,900/-. [Para No. 5, Part-II(b)] Inspection Report Year 2015-16

6. Non-restoration of possession of Hujras located in Dargah premises resulting in loss of rent. [Para No. 5, Part-II(b)] Inspection Report Year 2018-20

7. Irregularities found in the construction of boundary wall on 80 bigha land near KayadVishramSthali, Ajmer. [Para No. 2, Part-II(b)]

8. Non-recovery from Income Tax Department of TDS deducted by various banks on interest and rental deposits. [Para No. 3, Part-II(b)]

9. Non-recovery of rent and license fees of DargahKhwajaSaheb properties amounting to ₹62.65 lakh. [Para No. 4, Part-II(b)]

10. Non-deduction of GST, Labour Cess, and Royalty from payment bills for the work of constructing a covered verandah on the first floor over the existing verandah, amounting to ₹2.74 lakh. [Para No. 5, Part-II(b)] Inspection Report Year 2020-21

11. Irregularities found in the construction work of SolahKhamba Toilet Block. [Para No. 1, Part-II(b)]

12. Less collection of rent of ₹1.39 lakh due to lower rates from the prescribed rates. [Para No. 4, Part-II(b)]

13. Cash payments of ₹4.80 lakh made in violation of provisions of the Income Tax Act. [Para No. 5, Part-II(b)]

14. Irregular payment of travel expenses of ₹0.89 lakh without air travel tickets/boarding passes. [Para No. 6, Part-II(b)]

15. Payment of unnecessary and avoidable travel expenses of ₹0.34 lakh for attending a virtual meeting held on Google Meet. [Para No. 7, Part-II(b)]

16. Irregular payment of taxi charges of ₹1.31 lakh without vehicle number. [Para No. 8, Part-II(b)]

17. Failure to amend service rules of employees even after forty-five years and depriving them and their dependents of social security benefits. [Para No. 9, Part-II(b)]

18. Shortage of 1,639 books found in the library. [Para No. 10, Part-II(b)]Inspection Report Year 2021-22

19. Non-recovery of loan amount of ₹243.31 lakh given to Khwaja Model School, Ajmer / KhwajaGarib Nawaz (RA Society, Ajmer), and non-adjustment/non-recovery of loan amount of ₹60.46 lakh given in previous years.

[Para No. 1, Part-II(b)]

20. Non-receipt of annuity amounting to ₹10.39 lakh payable against acquisition of Jagirs of DargahKhwajaSaheb, Ajmer. [Para No. 3, Part-II(b)]

21. Avoidable loss of revenue due to non-eviction of encroachments from Dargah premises properties(Degs). [Para No. 4, Part-II(b)]

22. Futile expenditure of ₹28.30 lakh incurred due to non-utilization of X-Ray machine purchased for ensuring security of DargahKhwajaSaheb premises and prevention of terrorist incidents/activities. [Para No. 5, Part-II(b)]

23. Non-recovery of rent of DargahKhwajaSaheb properties amounting to ₹8.25 lakh. [Para No. 6, Part-II(b)]

24. Non-recovery of Security Deposit amounting to ₹5.22 lakh deposited for temporary electricity connection. [Para No. 7, Part-II(b)] Inspection Report Year 2022-23

25. Non-recovery of rent of DargahKhwajaSaheb properties amounting to ₹16.87 lakh. [OBS-1063179, Part-II(b)]

26. Futile expenditure of ₹0.65 lakh due to non-commencement of Garib Nawaz College. [OBS-1063236, Part-II(b)]

27. Non-recovery from Income Tax Department of TDS deducted by various banks on interest and rental deposits. [OBS-1063248, Part-II(b)]

28. Non-recovery of outstanding room rent of Dargah Guest House amounting to ₹22.88 lakh. [OBS-1063281, Part-II(b)]

29. Avoidable loss of ₹55.16 lakh due to non-recovery of due fees in time. [OBS-1063288, Part-II(b)]

30. Avoidable loss of ₹2.38 lakh due to non-deposit of cash received by Cash Section. [OBS-1063311, Part-II(b)]

31. Avoidable loss of ₹10.72 lakh due to non-recovery of reimbursement amount. [OBS, Part-II(b)]

32. Futile expenditure and non-achievement of objectives due to commencement of construction work without ensuring change in land use, along with non-recovery of deposit amounting to ₹5.67 lakh. [OBS, Part-II(b)] Part-IV (Best Practices) During the review of accounts of the Office of Nazim, DargahKhwajaSaheb, Ajmer for the year 2023- 24, it was observed that apart from the audit observations raised, the office has been maintaining records in a proper and appropriate manner.

Part-V (Acknowledgement) The audit team expresses its gratitude to the Office of Nazim, DargahKhwajaSaheb, Ajmer and its staff for their cooperation in successfully conducting the audit. An Entry Conference was held on

20.01.2025, in which the scope and methodology of the audit were explained. For discussion on various issues raised during the audit, an Exit Conference was held on 08.02.2025. The audit team also conveys its sincere thanks for the seating arrangements provided during the course of audit.

Senior Audit Officer / C.R.A.-II (Expenditure)