J&K L-G restructures Mata Vaishno Devi board

Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has reconstituted the board by appointing nine new members. A government notification confirmed the appointments, which include notable names like Sudha Murty, Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, and retired officials from IPS and IAS services. The Shrine Board manages the affairs of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, located atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district, with Katra as the base town. Over 1.5 crore devotees visit the shrine every year. The board, originally formed under the 1988 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Act, is responsible for overseeing the shrine's operations, infrastructure, and pilgrimage services. It is limited to a chairman and a maximum of ten members. The shrine is dedicated to Vaishno Devi, a revered Hindu goddess representing the combined energies of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.