Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The District Magistrate of Baramulla has issued a sweeping order prohibiting individuals, organisations, NGOs and trusts from collecting donations or funds from the public without obtaining valid prior permission from the competent authority, citing mounting concerns over unauthorised and potentially fraudulent fundraising activity in the district. The directive marks a significant tightening of oversight around charitable and relief-related fundraising in the area.
According to the order, the directive followed specific inputs from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, indicating that certain non-local individuals, including women, had been found collecting donations in Baramulla town on the pretext of providing relief to victims of natural calamities. During verification, these individuals reportedly failed to produce any valid authorisation, permission or supporting documentation issued by any government authority, NGO, charitable organisation or other competent body permitting them to solicit funds from the public.
The administration observed that unauthorised donation collection raises serious concerns around transparency and accountability, warning that such unchecked activity could lead to misuse of public goodwill and expose ordinary citizens to fraudulent fundraising schemes disguised as genuine relief efforts. The order emphasised that citizens giving generously toward disaster relief deserve assurance that their contributions actually reach those in need.
In exercise of powers vested in the office of the District Magistrate, it has now been formally ordered that no individual, organisation, NGO or trust shall undertake any donation or fund collection drive within Baramulla district without first obtaining permission from the competent authority. The order further directs the Senior Superintendents of Police of both Baramulla and Sopore, along with all concerned Executive Magistrates, to ensure strict implementation of the directive on the ground.
Authorities have been instructed to take appropriate legal action against violators under the relevant provisions of law, signalling that the administration intends to treat unauthorised fundraising as a serious enforcement matter rather than a mere procedural lapse. The move comes against the backdrop of recurring instances across Kashmir where calamities, ranging from floods to landslides, have periodically drawn well-meaning donors as well as opportunistic fundraisers exploiting public sympathy.
By formalising the permission requirement, the Baramulla administration is seeking to create an auditable trail for all donation drives in the district, making it easier to distinguish legitimate relief campaigns from exploitative ones. Officials indicated that similar vigilance may be extended to neighbouring districts if the pattern of unauthorised collection is found to be more widespread than initially assessed.
