Two Congress MLAs on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar that regulates the collection of donations during the holy month of Ramadhan.
The issue was raised in the House by MLA Nizamuddin Bhat from Bandipora during discussions on departmental grants overseen by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Bhat criticized the order, which mandates regulation, monitoring, and oversight of donations, calling it “unconstitutional.”
“This intrudes into privacy. Are Sadaqah and Zakat meant to be subjected to administrative scrutiny? Shariah teaches that the left hand should not know what the right hand donates,” Bhat said.
He described the directive as “absolutely unconstitutional, ultra vires, bad in law, and provocative” and urged the Chief Minister to review and withdraw it immediately.
Seconding the demand, Dooru MLA and senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir called the order “shocking,” adding, “This is the first time such a directive has been issued in the country,” and urged the CM to revoke it.
The DC’s order requires individuals or groups to obtain clearance from the executive officer of the Wakf Board, the Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar, the President of Majlis Shura Committee Kishtwar, or the relevant tehsildar before collecting donations. All fundraising entities must maintain transparent records of their collections and disbursements.
