Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Government has taken a firm stand over alleged irregularities in the management of donations and offerings at Shri Badrinath Dham. On the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a three-member high-level inquiry committee has been constituted. Simultaneously, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has suspended Pramod Nautiyal, Personal Assistant in the Chairman’s Office, with immediate effect over prima facie allegations of serious irregularities.
According to an order issued by Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, the committee will be chaired by the Garhwal Commissioner. Its members include Sandeep Tiwari, Managing Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), and Jagat Singh Chauhan, Director (Finance), Department of Medical Health.
The committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the management of donations and offerings at Badrinath Dham and submitting its report, along with recommendations, to the government within 15 days. If required, the panel may also seek assistance from experts and concerned officials and recommend measures to enhance transparency and accountability in the donation management system.
Meanwhile, BKTC has initiated disciplinary proceedings by suspending Pramod Nautiyal. According to the committee, a show-cause notice had been issued to him on July 3 following allegations of serious lapses in the discharge of official responsibilities, and a four-member inquiry committee was constituted.
After examining the preliminary inquiry report and the employee’s explanation, the allegations were found to have prima facie merit. The committee concluded that allowing the employee to remain in his current position could influence the investigation; therefore, he was suspended to ensure a fair and impartial inquiry.
During the suspension period, Nautiyal will receive a subsistence allowance as per service rules and has been attached to the BKTC office in Joshimath. He has also been directed not to leave the headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority and to cooperate fully with the investigation.
BKTC stated that transparency, accountability, and administrative discipline remain its highest priorities and affirmed that strict action would be taken against any individual found guilty of irregularities.
