A government statement said: ``The Government does not contemplate any change in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Act''. The official spokesman who released the statement said the ``propaganda'' on the proposed amendments was uncalled for and added that the Baridars Association had presented some demands to the Government, which were being examined separately.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and several local organisations had threatened to launch a country-wide agitation against the State Government if it went ahead with its move to amend the Shrine Board Act.

The Government had constituted a cabinet sub-committee to examine the proposal seeking amendment inSection 19 of the Act. The draft proposal had been circulated to the members of the committee for consideration.

The spokesman, however, did not elaborate as to which demands of the Baridars were being examined by the Government ``separately'' especially when all the related issues had already been decided by the Supreme Court. Even the Tribunal set up by the Government, to award compensation to the Baridars as per the decision of the Supreme Court, had already given its award. The Shrine Board had also implemented part of the Tribunal's award by paying Rs 3 crore as compensation to some of the Baridars.

Meanwhile, sources said the proposal, which had come up for discussion before the State cabinet headed by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, envisaged the handing over of one-third of the offerings made by devotees at the holy shrine, Garzoon, Ardh Kunwari and Bhairo Ghati temples to the former Baridars. Besides, it proposed to allow Baridars remain inside the holy shrine along with the officials of theBoard and perform pooja exclusively.

VHP leader Ashok Singhal had met Union Home Minister LK Advani over the issue. The Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Jammu, Vaid Vishnu Dutt, had also threatened to take up the issue with senior party leaders at the Centre.