Section 23 in The Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987
23. Powers of the trustee.
(1)The trustee of every charitable or religious institution or endowment shall administer its affairs, manage its properties and apply its funds in accordance with the terms of the trust, the usage of the institution or endowment and all lawful directions which a competent authority may issue in respect thereof and as carefully as a man of ordinary prudence would deal with such affairs, fund and properties if they were of his own.(2)A trustee shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be entitled to exercise all powers incidental to the prudent and beneficial administration of the charitable or religious institution or endowment and to the performance of the functions entrusted to him.(3)A trustee shall not spend the funds of the charitable or religious institution or endowment for meeting any costs, charges or expenses incurred by him in any suit, appeal or application or other proceedings for or incidental to the establishment of his appointment to or removal from office or any disciplinary action taken against him;Provided that the trustee may reimburse himself in respect of such costs, charges and expenses if he is specifically permitted to do so by an order passed under Section 136.(4)(a)It shall be lawful for a trustee of a religious institution by an order, to prohibit within the premises of the religious institutions or within such area belonging to that institution as may be specified in the order.(i)sale, possession, use or consumption of any intoxicating liquor or drug, or cigarettes including beedies and chuttas;(ii)gaming with cards, dice, counters, money or other instrument of gaming;(iii)sale, possession, preparation or consumption of meat or other food stuffs containing meat;(iv)slaughter, killing or maiming of any animal or bird for any purpose.(b)Any person contravening an order made by the trustee under clause (a) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees or with both;(c)Every offence punishable under this sub-section shall be cognizable offence within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.Provided that no police officer shall arrest any person for such offence except on a written complaint made by the trustee or Executive Officer of a religious institution or endowment.(d)Every person contravening an order made by the trustee under clause (a) shall be deemed to be an encroacher' within the meaning of Section 83.(5)(a)Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force, whoever in the local area-(i)imports, exports, transports, or possesses liquor or any intoxicating drug or cigarettes including beedies and chuttas;(ii)manufactures liquor or any intoxicating drug;(iii)cultivates the hemp plant or collects any portion of such plant from which an intoxicating drug can be manufactured;(iv)sells liquor or any intoxicating drug;(v)consumes or buys liquor or any intoxicating drug;(vi)allows any of the acts aforesaid upon the premises in his immediate possession;or(vii)sells or possesses, prepares or consumes meat or other food stuffs containing meat; shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees or with both.(b)Every offence punishable under this sub-section shall be cognizable offence within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.Explanation. - In this section "local area" means such area in the vicinity of any religious institution as the Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.(6)(a)The trustee of a religious institution or endowment shall have power subject to such conditions as the Commissioner may by general or special order impose to fix fees for the performance of archana or any service or ritual or ceremony connected with such institution or endowment;(b)The trustee shall have power to determine and fix place for breaking the coconut within the premises of the temple for the convenience of devotees and to maintain cleanliness in the temple.(7)It shall be lawful for the trustee of an institution or endowment to convene a meeting of devotees, persons having interest and beneficiaries in the manner prescribed for obtaining suggestions for the betterment of such institution or endowment.
