{"id":6386,"date":"2002-12-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2002-12-02T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002"},"modified":"2015-07-21T15:17:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T09:47:32","slug":"shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","title":{"rendered":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002"},"content":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002<\/div>\n
Author: A Pasayat<\/div>\n
Bench: Shivaraj V. Patil, Arijit Pasayat.<\/div>\n
           CASE NO.:\nAppeal (civil)  3350-54 of 1993\n\nPETITIONER:\nShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar\n\nRESPONDENT:\nBagga Singh and Ors.\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT: 03\/12\/2002\n\nBENCH:\nSHIVARAJ V. PATIL & ARIJIT PASAYAT.\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n
JUDGMENT<\/p>\n
ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.\n<\/p>\n
\tThese five appeals by special leave arise from a common judgment of
\na Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.\tThe five appeals
\nbefore it were directed against the order dated 1.8.1978 passed by the Sikh
\nGurdwaras Tribunal Punjab, Chandigarh (in short ‘the Tribunal’) in Petition
\nnos. 663 and 654 of 1975.\n<\/p>\n
\tSynoptical resume of the factual position is as follows:\n<\/p>\n
One Bakhtawar Singh and fifty nine other worshippers of an
\ninstitution alleged to be Gurdwara Sahib Ji situated in the revenue estate of
\nKot Fatta, Tehsil and District Bhatinda filed a petition under sub-section (1)
\nof Section 7 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 (in short ‘the Act’) to the
\nappropriate Secretary, Government of Punjab, praying, inter alia, that the
\nsaid institution be declared as Sikh Gurdwara and properties mentioned in
\nthe petition be declared as belonging to the Gurdwara.\tThe appropriate
\nSecretary to the Government of Punjab, in terms of sub-section (3) of
\nSection 7 of the Act published the petition along with rights, titles and
\ninterests showing rights, titles and interests belonging to the Gurdwara in
\nquestion vide notification in the Punjab Government Gazette dated
\n4.11.1974   One Mahant Sarna Ram,  an Udasi,  filed a petition under
\nSection 10 of the Act claiming that there was no Sikh Gurdwara in
\nexistence, the alleged institution was his residential house, and agricultural
\nland alleged to be belonging to the Gurdwara was his property.\t  One Ramji
\nDass and others also filed identical petition stating that the alleged Gurdwara
\nbuilding was residential house of Sarna Ram Chela Chet Ram and the
\nagricultural land belonged to him and they have purchased about 60 Kanals
\nof land from him. Both these petitions were forwarded by the appropriate
\nSecretary to the Government of Punjab to the Tribunal under sub-section (1)
\nof Section 14 of the Act.  Tribunal treated the petition to be a composite one
\nunder Sections 8 and 10 of the Act. By its order dated 22.7.1975 Tribunal
\nheld that since Sarna Ram had not claimed that he was a hereditary office
\nholder of the institution in dispute, he had no locus standi to file the petition
\nunder Section 8. Ramji Dass and others neither claimed any personal interest
\nin the Gurdwara building nor did they claim to be worshippers or hereditary
\noffice-holders of the institution and their petition was similarly not
\nmaintainable. However, the Tribunal proceeded to deal with the petition
\nunder Section 10.  It is to be noted that the Tribunal registered the petitions
\nas No. 663\/1975 (Bagga Singh and another v. S.G.P.C. Amritsar) filed by
\nSarna Ram and No.654\/1975 (Ramji Dass and others v. S.G.P.C. Amritsar)
\nfiled by Ramji Das and others. The petitions under Section 10 of the Act
\nwere registered giving identical numbers. Vide its order dated 31.7.1978 the
\nTribunal held that the building in question was a Gurdwara and the land
\nattached to it belonged to the Gurdwara in question.\n<\/p>\n
Challenging the correctness of said order, the successors-in-interest of
\nlate Mahant Sarna Ram filed First Appeal No. 434 of 1978 and the alienees
\nfrom late Mahant Sarna Ram assailed the order in First Appeal no. 435 of
\n1978. As a consequence of the order dated 31.7.1978 passed by the Tribunal,
\nShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar (hereinafter referred
\nto as ‘the Committee’) filed two suits under Section 25-A of the Act.  One
\nwas against Bagga Singh and Darshan Singh, legal representatives of late
\nMahant Sarna Ram and the other against Ramji Dass and others who were
\nalienees from aforesaid late Mahant Sarna Ram and these were registered as
\nsuits No. 89 and 90 of 1979 respectively.  Both these suits were decreed by
\nthe Tribunal by order dated 18.12.1979 and decrees were passed in favour of
\nthe Committee.\tAforesaid decrees were challenged in First Appeal nos. 34
\nof 1980, 198 of 1980 and 144 of 1980.\n<\/p>\n
Tribunal, inter alia, came to the conclusion on consideration of the
\noral and documentary evidence that the institution in question was a Sikh
\nGurdwara.  It placed reliance on the two decisions of the Lahore High Court
\nin Kahan Dass v. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Lahore (AIR<\/a>
\n1934 Lahore 68) and Sunder Singh and others v. Mahant Narain Dass and
\nothers (AIR<\/a> 1934 Lahore 920).\n<\/p>\n
Tribunal also noticed that after a petition is dismissed by reason of its
\nincompetence it must be taken not to have been presented in accordance
\nwith the provisions of Section 8 and the local Government could notify the
\ninstitution under Section 9.  Consequence of such notification is that the
\nGurdwara was to be declared as a Sikh Gurdwara.\t Further Section 18(1)(g)
\nraised a presumption that where assignment of land is made by way of
\nsuccession from Guru to Chela, the presumption under Section 18(1)(g)
\narises.\t It was further held that presumption attached to the entries in the
\nJamabandi under Section 44 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 ( in
\nshort ‘Revenue Act’)  is rebutted by the presumption under Section 18(1)(g)
\nof the Act.  Dismissing Sarna Ram’s petition it was held that he had no right,
\ntitle or interest in the land which belonged to the Gurdwara.  As a
\nconsequence, other applications filed by Ramji Dass and others were not
\nentertainable and, therefore, the transfer in favour of the alienees by the sale-
\ndeed was of no consequence.\n<\/p>\n
Before the High Court, stand of the appellants in the appeals was that
\nthe Tribunal’s approach was clearly erroneous.\tIt committed first faux pas
\nby treating applications to be composite one under Sections 8 and  10 of the
\nAct.  The parameters of Sections 8 and 10 are entirely different and the
\npetitions filed by Sarna Ram and his alienees were in terms of Section 10.
\nFurther the evidence on record clearly established that the land in question
\nwas the personal land of Sarna Ram. In a suit filed in the year 1949, there
\nwas a declaration about the absolute ownership of Sarna Ram and that itself
\nwas sufficient to show that the property did not belong to the Sikh Gurdwara
\nand it had no right, title or interest\tover the land in question. Stand of the
\nrespondents before the Tribunal, so far as this plea is concerned, was that the
\nCommittee was not a party in this suit,\t and principle of  res judicata was not
\napplicable.\n<\/p>\n
Appellants before High Court submitted that suit was filed in the year
\n1949 which was disposed of in the year 1951. At the point of time the suit
\nwas decided, the Committee was not in existence as for the first time the
\napplication under Section 7 of the Act was filed in the year 1960, publication
\nwas made in the official gazette in the year 1974, and the petition was
\nregistered before the Tribunal in the year 1975.  Therefore, the binding
\neffect of this judgment and decree passed long time before, cannot be diluted
\nand specious plea of the respondents being not party should not have been
\naccepted by the Tribunal.\n<\/p>\n
The High Court found that the Tribunal has proceeded on erroneous
\npremises by holding that the application was a composite one under Sections
\n8 and 10 of the Act. The petition was reproduced in extenso, to conclude that
\nthe petition was one under Section 10,\tand the artificial bifurcation made by
\nthe Tribunal was not proper.  It also noticed that the Tribunal lost sight of
\nthe fact that Sarna Ram was Udasi and the decisions referred to by the
\nTribunal were not applicable. In fact Exhibits R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5 and
\nR-7 are clearly indicative of the fact that the (kaum of) Chet Ram and Sarna
\nRam was “Sadh Bairagi”.\t It was held that the entries do not warrant any
\npresumption that mere passing from Guru to Chela was indicative of its
\nreligious character.  There is no allegation much less proof  which will prove
\nthat the land was given to the Mahant for religious and charitable purposes.
\nReference was made to decision of the Privy Council in Pandit Parma Nand
\nv. Nihal Chand and another (AIR 1938 PC 195), to conclude that there was
\nno presumption about property being religious property.\t It further observed
\nthat the two Lahore decisions on which reliance was placed by the Tribunal
\nwere factually distinguishable.\t It was held that the observations made in
\nthose cases relate to different factual situations and the Court had no
\noccasion to express any opinion that a person of the Udasi order cannot
\nacquire private property.\n<\/p>\n
It noticed that the judgment of civil court which adjudicated the suit of
\n1949 and disposed it of by judgment dated 31st August, 1951 was relevant
\nunder Section 13 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1882 (in short ‘the Evidence
\nAct’).\tWith reference to the evidence tendered by the parties by
\nexamination of witnesses, it was concluded that the statements of  witnesses
\nexamined as PWs were reliable and cogent and that of RWs was clearly
\nunacceptable.  The factual findings so far as evidence of RWs is concerned,
\nwere, inter alia, as follows:\n<\/p>\n
\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
“The Committee examined two witnesses, namely,
\nR.W.1 Bakshi Singh and R.W.2 Gurdit Singh.  They
\ndeposed that they had seen the disputed premises which
\nis used as a Gurdwara; that people go there for worship;
\nthat income from the land is used for langar (free
\nkitchen) and providing food to the wayfarers and for
\nrepaid of the Gurdwara building.  They admitted in cross-
\nexamination that there was another Gurdwara in the
\ncenter of the village and there is no land attached to that
\nGurdwara.\n<\/p>\n
The oral evidence led by the appellant appears to
\nbe credible and trustworthy.  Perusal of the documentary
\nevidence indicates that predecessor Mahants have been
\nrecorded as owner-in-possession of the agricultural land
\nsince 1883-84 A.D.  In Ex.R-1, which is copy of
\nJamabandi for the year 1883-84, Chet Ram, Predecessor-
\nin-interest of the appellant, is recorded as owner-in-
\npossession of the land in dispute.  The testimony of the
\nappellant’s witnesses finds corroboration from the
\ndocumentary evidence referred supra and it lends
\ncredence to the witness’ testimony that the disputed
\nagricultural land had devolved on the appellant from his
\nancestors.  On the other hand, the oral evidence led by
\nthe committee does not inspire confidence.  Their bold
\nstatements receive no corroboration from the
\ndocumentary evidence.  They could not tell which place
\nin the disputed Dera was being used as Parkash Asthan.
\nThey admitted that for the last 6\/7 months there was no
\nParkash of Guru Granth Sahib, but they did not state
\nwhether any Gurparb was celebrated in the institution or
\nthat Guru Granth Sahib was the only mode of worship
\nand it was being recited religiously in the institution.
\nTheir parrot-like statements are not reliable.”\n<\/p>\n
Resultantly it was observed that there is no escape from the
\nconclusion that the property mentioned in the Punjab Government
\nNotification dated 4.11.1974 published under sub-section (3) of Section 7 of
\nthe Act is the private property of Mahant Sarna Ram, and the appeals were
\nallowed.\n<\/p>\n
In support of the appeals, it was contended by the learned counsel for
\nthe appellant that on every count the High Court judgment is erroneous on
\napplication of law and appreciation of evidence.  It was submitted that the
\neffect of notification under Section 9 of the Act and the presumption under
\nSection 18(1)(g) of the Act were lost sight of.\t The entries showing that
\nSarna Ram acquired the property by succession from his Guru as Chela
\nclearly establish that the property was a religious property and no other
\nconclusion is available. The notification under Section 9(1) was issued on
\n16.5.1978 and, therefore, Part III of the Act was applicable and the petition
\nunder Section 10 was misconceived.  Though the maintainability of the
\npetition was not specifically raised by the Committee before the Tribunal or
\nthe High Court that being a question of law was available to be urged in
\nthese appeals. High Court erroneously proceeded on the basis that the
\napplication was under Section 10 of the Act.  Conclusion of the Tribunal that
\nit was composite petition under Sections 8 and 10 of the Act, and its
\nobservations that the petition was incompetent, had attained finality.
\nPresumption under Section 44 of the Revenue Act was rebutted in view of
\nwhat has been stated in Section 18 (1)(g) of the Act.  The High Court only
\nreferred to Section 13 of the Evidence Act,  but lost sight of Section 11 of
\nthe Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (in short ‘the CPC’) dealing with res
\njudicata.  Admittedly,\tthe Committee was not a party in suit, and merely
\nbecause it was decided in the year 1951, the decision in the suit does not
\noperate as res judicata.  There was no material to show that Mahant Sarna
\nRam belonged to the Udasi order and the High Court held so on mere
\npresumptions. Two decisions of the Lahore High Court on which the
\nTribunal placed reliance are clearly applicable to the facts of the case,  and
\nthe High Court was in error by holding the factual position in said cases to
\nbe distinguishable.\n<\/p>\n
Respondents supported the judgment and submitted that the
\nconclusions on law and facts are irreversible. In addition to re-iteration of
\npoints urged by them before the High Court it was submitted that requisite
\nconditions for declaration as Sikh Gurudwara as mandated by Section 16(2)
\nhave not been established.\n<\/p>\n
In order to appreciate the rival submissions birds eye view of the
\npivotal provisions is necessary.  They are Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16(2)  and
\n18(1)(g), and read as follows:-\n<\/p>\n
Section 7: Petitions to have a gurdwara declared a Sikh
\nGurdwara- (1) Any fifty or more Sikh worshippers of a
\ngurdwara, each of whom is more than twenty-one years
\nof age and was on the commencement of this Act or, in
\nthe case of the extended territories from the
\ncommencement of the Amending Act, resident in the
\npolice station area in which the gurdwara is situated, may
\nforward to the appropriate Secretary to Government so as
\nto reach the Secretary within one year from the
\ncommencement of this Act or within such further period
\nas the State Government may by notification fix for this
\npurpose, a petition praying to have the gurdwara declared
\nto be a Sikh Gurdwara:\n<\/p>\n
Provided that the State Government may in respect
\nof any such gurdwara declare by notification that a
\npetition shall be deemed to be duly forwarded whether
\nthe petitioners were or were not on the commencement of
\nthis Act or, in the case of the extended territories, on the
\ncommencement of the Amending Act, as the case may
\nbe, residents in the police station area in which such
\ngurdwara is situated, and shall thereafter deal with any
\npetition that may be otherwise duly forwarded in respect
\nof any such gurdwara as if the petition had been duly
\nforwarded by petitioners who were such residents:\n<\/p>\n
Provided further that no such petition shall be
\nentertained in respect of any institution specified in
\nschedule I or schedule II unless the institution is deemed
\nto be excluded from specification in schedule I under the
\nprovisions of Section 4.\n<\/p>\n
(2) List of property claimed for the gurdwara and of
\npersons in possession thereof to accompany a petition
\nunder sub-section\t(1) A petition forwarded under the
\nprovisions of sub-section (1) shall state the name of the
\ngurdwara to which it relates and of the district, tahsil and
\nrevenue estate in which it is situated, and shall be
\naccompanied by a list, verified and signed by the
\npetitioners, of all rights, titles or interest in immovable
\nproperties situated in Punjab inclusive of the gurdwara
\nand in all monetary endowments yielding recurring
\nincome or profit received in Punjab, which the petitioners
\nclaim to belong\t within their knowledge to the gurdwara
\nthe name of the person in possession of any such right,
\ntitle or interest, and if any  such person is insane or a
\nminor, the name of his legal or natural guardian, or if
\nthere is no such guardian, the name of the persons with
\nwhom the insane person or minor resides or is residing,
\nof if there is no such person, the name of the person
\nactually or constructively in possession of such right, title
\nor interest on behalf of the insane person or minor, and if
\nany such right, title or interest is alleged to be in
\npossession of the gurdwara through any person the name
\nof such person shall be stated in the list; and the petition
\nand the list shall  be in such form and shall contain such
\nfurther particulars as may be prescribed.\n<\/p>\n
(3) Publication of petition and list received under sub-
\nsections (1) and (2)-\tOn receiving a petition duly signed
\nand forwarded under the provisions of sub-section (1) the
\nState Government shall as soon as may be, publish it
\nalong with the accompanying list, by notification, and
\nshall cause it and the list to be published, in such manner
\nas may be prescribed, at the headquarters of the district
\nand of the tahsil and in the revenue estate in which the
\ngurdwara is situated, and at the headquarters of every
\ndistrict and of every tahsil and in every revenue estate in
\nwhich any of the immovable properties mentioned in the
\nlist is situated and shall also give such other notice
\nthereof as may be prescribed:\n<\/p>\n
\tProvided that such petition may be withdrawn by
\nnotice to be forwarded by the Board so as to reach the
\nappropriate Secretary to Government at any time before
\npublication, and on such withdrawal, it shall be deemed
\nas if no petition had been forwarded under the provisions
\nof sub-section (1).\n<\/p>\n
(4) Notice of claims to property to be sent to persons
\nshown in the list as in possession- The state Government
\nshall also, as soon as may be, send by registered post a
\nnotice of the claim to any right, title or interest included
\nin the list to each of the persons named therein as being
\nin possession of such right, title or interest either on his
\nown behalf or on behalf of an insane person or minor or
\non behalf of the gurdwara:\n<\/p>\n
\tProvided that no such notice need be sent if the
\nperson named as being in possession is a person who
\njoined in forwarding the list.\n<\/p>\n
(5) Effect of publication of petition and list under sub-
\nsection (3)- The publication of a notification under the
\nprovisions of sub-section (3) shall be conclusive proof
\nthat the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4)
\nhave been duly complied with.\n<\/p>\n
Section 8: Petition to have it declared that a place
\nasserted to be a Sikh Gurdwara is not such a gurdwara
\nWhen a notification has been published under the
\nprovisions of sub-section (3) of Section 7 in respect of
\nany gurdwara, and hereditary office-holders or any
\ntwenty or more worshippers of the gurdwara, each of
\nwhom is more than twenty-one years of age and was on
\nthe commencement of this Act or, in the case of the
\nextended territories, on the commencement of the
\nAmending Act, as the case may be, a resident of a police
\nstation area in which the gurdwara is situated may
\nforward to the State Government, through the appropriate
\nSecretary to Government so as to reach the Secretary
\nwithin ninety days from the date of the publication of the
\nnotification, a petition signed and verified by the
\npetitioner, or petitioners, as the case may be, claiming
\nthat the gurdwara is not a Sikh Gurdwara, and may in
\nsuch petition make a further claim that any hereditary
\noffice holder or any person who would have succeeded to
\nsuch office holder under the system of management
\nprevailing before the first day of January, 1920 or, in the
\ncase of the extended territories, before the Ist day of
\nNovember, 1956, as the case may be, may be restored to
\noffice on the grounds that such gurdwara is not a Sikh
\nGurdwara and that such office-holder ceased to be an
\noffice-holder after that day:\n<\/p>\n
\tProvided that the State Government may in respect
\nof any such gurdwara declare by notification that a
\npetition of twenty or more worshippers of such gurdwara
\nshall be deemed to be duly forwarded whether the
\npetitioners were or were not on the commencement of
\nthis Act or, in the case of the extended territories, on the
\ncommencement of the Amending Act, as the case may
\nbe, resident in the police station area in which such
\ngurdwara is situated, and shall thereafter deal with any
\npetition that may be otherwise duly forwarded in respect
\nof any such gurdwara as if the petition had been duly
\nforwarded by petitioners who were such residents.\n<\/p>\n
Section 9: Effect of omission to present a petition under
\nsection 8- (1) If no petition has been presented in
\naccordance with the provisions of Section 8 in respect of
\na gurdwara to which a notification published under the
\nprovisions of sub-section (3) of Section 7 relates, the
\nState Government shall after the expiration of ninety
\ndays from the date of such notification, publish a
\nnotification declaring the gurdwara to be a Sikh
\nGurdwara.\n<\/p>\n
(2) Effect of publication of a notification under sub-
\nsection (1)- The publication of a notification under the
\nprovisions of sub-section (1) shall be conclusive proof
\nthat the gurdwara is a Sikh Gurdwara, and the provisions
\nof Part III shall apply to the gurdwara with effect from
\nthe date of the publication of the notification.\n<\/p>\n
Section 10: Petition of claim to property including in a
\nlist published under sub-section (3) of Section 7 (1) any
\nperson may forward to the State Government through the
\nappropriate Secretary to Government, so as to reach the
\nSecretary within ninety days from the date of the
\npublication of a notification under the provisions of sub-
\nsection (3) of Section 7, a petition claiming a right, title
\nor interest in any property included in the list so
\npublished.\n<\/p>\n
(2) Signing and verification of petitions under sub-
\nsection (1)  A petition forwarded under the provisions of
\nsub-section (1) shall be signed and verified by the person
\nforwarding it in the manner provided by the Code of
\nCivil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for the signing and
\nverification of plaints, and shall specify the nature of the
\nright, title or interest claimed and the grounds of the
\nclaim.\n<\/p>\n
(3) Notification of property not claimed under sub-
\nsection (1) and effect of such notification  The State
\nGovernment shall, as soon as may be, after the expiry of
\nthe period for making a claim under the provisions of
\nsub-section (1), publish notification, specifying the
\nrights, titles or interest in any properties in respect of
\nwhich no such claim has been made, and the notification
\nshall be conclusive proof of the fact that no such claim
\nwas made in respect of any right, title or interest
\nspecified in the notification.\n<\/p>\n
Section 14: Tribunal to dispose of petition under sections
\n5, 6, 8, 10 and 11  (1) The State Government shall
\nforward to a tribunal all petitions received by it under the
\nprovisions of sections 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11, and the tribunal
\nshall dispose of such petitions by order in accordance
\nwith the provisions of this Act.\n<\/p>\n
(2) The forwarding of the petitions shall  be conclusive
\nproof that the petitions were received by the State
\nGovernment within the time prescribed in sections 5, 6,
\n8, 10 and 11 as the case may be, and in the case of a
\npetition forwarded by worshippers of a gurdwara under
\nthe provisions of Section 8, shall be conclusive proof that
\nthe provisions of section 8 with respect to such
\nworshippers were duly complied with.\n<\/p>\n
Section 16(2): If the Tribunal finds that the gurdwara<\/p>\n
(i)\twas established by, or in memory of any of the
\nTen Sikh Gurus, or in commemoration of any incident in
\nthe life of any of the Ten Sikh Gurus and was used for
\npublic worship by Sikhs before and at the time of the
\npresentation of the petition under sub-section (1) of
\nSection 7; or<\/p>\n
(ii)\towing to some tradition connected with one of the
\nTen Sikh Gurus, was used for public worship
\npredominantly by Sikhs before and at the time of the
\npresentation of the petition under sub-section (1) of
\nSection 7;\n<\/p>\n
(iii)\twas established for use by Sikhs for the purpose of
\npublic worship and was used for such worship by Sikhs,
\nbefore and at the time of the presentation of the petition
\nunder sub-section (1) of Section 7; or<\/p>\n
(iv)\twas established in memory of a Sikh martyr, saint
\nor historical person and was used for such worship by
\nSikhs, before and at the time of the presentation of the
\npetition under sub-section (1) of Section 7; or<\/p>\n
(v)\towing to some incident connected with the Sikh
\nreligion was used for such worship by Sikhs, before and
\nat the time of the presentation of the petition under sub-
\nsection (1) of Section 7;\n<\/p>\n
the tribunal shall decide that it should be declared to be a
\nSikh Gurdwara, and record an order accordingly.\n<\/p>\n
Section 18(1)(g): Presumption in favour of a Notified
\nSikh Gurdwara on proof of certain facts when a claim to
\nproperty is made by an office-holder  In any
\nproceedings before a Tribunal, if any past or present
\noffice-holder denies that a right, title, or interest
\nrecorded, in his name or in that of any person through
\nwhom claims, in a record of rights, or in an annual
\nrecord, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the
\nPunjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 ( 17 of 1887), and
\nclaimed to belong to a Notified Sikh Gurdwara, does so
\nbelong, and claims such right, title or interest to belong to
\nhimself shall, notwithstanding anything contained in
\nsection 44 of the said Act, be a presumption that such
\nright, title or interest belongs to the gurdwara upon proof
\nof any of the following facts namely<\/p>\n
(a)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(b)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(c)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(d)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(e)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(f)\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx<\/p>\n
(g)\tthe devolution of the succession to the right, title
\nor interest in question from an office-holder to the
\nsuccessor-in-office as such on two or more consecutive
\noccasions.\n<\/p>\n
 Basic issue according to us is whether the High Court had rightly
\ndecided the questions raised before it in the background of Section 10.\t Copy
\nof the petition which was extracted by the High Court clearly shows that it
\nwas under Section 10.  The petition was reproduced in extenso. Bare reading
\nthereof shows that that it was in terms of Section 10.\tSections 8 and 10
\noperate in different fields. While Section 8 deals with the nature and
\ncharacter of the institution, Section 10 deals with adjudication of right,  title
\nand interest of the applicant. Section 9 only makes Part III of the Act
\napplicable where a notification is issued. Said Part deals with management
\nand administration of the property.  Section 9 nowhere bars an application in
\nterms of Section 10.  Since they operate in different fields, it cannot be said
\nthat an application under Section 10 was excluded when notification under
\nSection 9 was issued by the Government.\n<\/p>\n
 Though it was pleaded that there is no material to show that the Sant
\nSarna Ram belong to Udasi order.  The same is clearly untenable in view of
\nthe evidence, more particularly, that of PW 10, who has stated that Sarna
\nRam is the Chela of Chet Ram. The property which Sarna Ram claimed
\ndevolved upon him from his Guru Chet Ram, and they were Udasi Sadhus.
\nIn the Jamabandi records the kaum of Chet Ram and Sant Ram was recorded
\nto be, as noted above, “Sadh Bairagi”.\tHigh Court was not in error in
\nholding that the Sant Ram belonged  to Udasi order.\n<\/p>\n
At this juncture it will be necessary to take note some of the
\nobservations made by the Privy Council in Pandit Parma Nand’s case
\n(supra). That was a case which related to Udasis.  It was observed, inter alia,
\nas follows  :-\n<\/p>\n
“The principal ground, upon which the judgment
\nof this High Court proceeds, is that the Baghichi and
\nother properties have descended from guru (religious
\npreceptor) to enable chela (religious disciple); but this
\ncircumstance does not necessarily lead to the conclusion
\nthat a property, when acquired by a mahant, loses its
\nsecular character.  It is common ground that the mahants
\nof this Institution belonged to an ascetic order called
\nUdasi.\tThe Udasis rarely marry; and, if they do so,
\ngenerally lose all influence; for the dharamsala or
\nGurdwara soon becomes a private residence closed to
\nstrangers; Maclagants.\tCensus Report for the Punjab,
\nPart 1, Chap. 4, p.152.\t When a person enters the Udasi
\norder, he severs his connection with the members of his
\nnatural family.\t It follows that neither he nor his natural
\nrelative can succeed to the property held by the other.
\nThere is however no reason for holding that an Udasi
\ncannot acquire private property with his own money or
\nby his own exertions. If he does acquire private property,
\nit cannot be inherited by his natural relatives, but passes
\non his death to his spiritual heir including his chela who
\nis recognized as his spiritual son.  The descent of the
\nproperty from a guru to his chela does not warrant the
\npresumption that it is religious property.”\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t (Underlined for emphasis)<\/p>\n
In view of the aforesaid, it is really not necessary to deal in detail with
\nthe plea relating to non-compliance of the stipulations in Section 16(2),
\nexcept to take note of two decisions of this Court, rendered by three learned
\nJudges in each, throwing beacon light on the issue.\n<\/p>\n
In Pritam Dass Mahant  v.  Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak
\nCommittee (AIR<\/a> 1984 SC 858), it was held as under:-\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx\tx
\n“Temples are found almost in every religion but
\nthere are some differences between the Sikh temples and
\nthose of other religions.  The Sikh Gurdwaras have the
\nfollowing distinctive features:\n<\/p>\n
(1) Sikh temples are not the place of idol worship
\nas the Hindu temples are.  There is no place for idol
\nworship in a Gurdwara. The central object of worship in
\na Gurdwara is Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book.
\nThe pattern of worship consists of two main items:
\nreading of the holy hymns followed by their explanation
\nby some learned man, not necessarily a particular Granthi
\nand then singing of some passages from the Holy Granth.
\nThe former is called Katha and the second is called
\nKirtan.\t A Sikh thus worships the Holy Words that are
\nwritten in the Granth Sahib, the Words or Shabada about
\nthe Eternal Truth of God.  No idol or painting of any
\nGuru can be worshipped.\n<\/p>\n
(2) Sikh worship in the Gurdwara is a
\ncongregational worship, whereas Hindu temples are
\nmeant for individual worship.  A Sikh does the individual
\nworship at home when he recites Gurbani daily. Some
\nscriptures meant for this purpose are Japji, Jaap, Rahras,
\nKirtan Sohila. Sangat is the collective body of Sikhs who
\nmeet every day in the Gurdwara.\n<\/p>\n
(3)\tGurdwara is a place where a copy of Guru
\nGranth Sahib is installed. The unique and distinguishing
\nfeature would always be the Nishan Sahib, a flagstaff
\nwith a yellow flag of Sikhism flying from it.  This serves
\nas a symbol of the Sikh presence.  It enables the
\ntravellers, whether they be Sikhs or not, to know where
\nhospitality is available. There may be complexity of
\nrooms in a Gurdwara for the building may also serve as a
\nschool, or where children are taught the rudiments of
\nSikhism as well as a rest center for travellers.  Often
\nthere will be a kitchen where food can be prepared
\nthough langar itself might take place in the yawning.
\nSometimes the Gurdwara will also be used as a clinic.
\nBut its pivotal point is the place of worship and the main
\nroom will be that in which the Guru Granth Sahib is
\ninstalled where the community gathers for diwan.  The
\nfocal point in this room will be the book itself.”\n<\/p>\n
The sine qua non for an institution, to be treated as Sikh Gurdwara  as
\nobserved in the said case,  is that there should be established Guru Granth
\nSahib,\tand the worship of the same by congregation,  and a Nishan Sahib.
\nThere may be other rooms of the institution made for other purposes but the
\ncrucial test is the existence of Guru Granth Sahib and the worshippers
\nthereof by the congregation and Nishan Sahib.\n<\/p>\n
Unless the claim falls within one or the other of the categories
\nenumerated in sub-section (2) of Section 16, the institution cannot be
\ndeclared to be a Sikh Gurdwara.\n<\/p>\n
In Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee Amritsar  v.
\nMahant Kirpa Ram and Ors. (AIR 1984 SC 1059), it was observed that
\nUdasis form an independent sect. They do venerate Sikh scriptures.
\nTherefore, in an institution of Udasis sect, one can visualize reading of
\nGranth Sahib or veneration of Sikh scriptures.\tThat itself is not decisive of
\nthe character of the institution.  On the contrary, where the succession was
\nfrom Guru to Chela and those Gurus were followers of Udasis faith and the
\ninstitution was known as Dera of Udasi Bhekh and they followed some of
\nthe practices of Hindu traditional religion, such things were completely
\ndestructive of the character of the institution as Sikh Gurdwara.\n<\/p>\n
Above being the factual position and the legal principles applicable
\nthereto, the appeals deserve dismissal,\t which we direct.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 Author: A Pasayat Bench: Shivaraj V. Patil, Arijit Pasayat. CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 3350-54 of 1993 PETITIONER: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar RESPONDENT: Bagga Singh and Ors. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03\/12\/2002 BENCH: SHIVARAJ V. PATIL & ARIJIT PASAYAT. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"\nShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Legal India Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@legaliadmin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Legal_india\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Legal India Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"27 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Legal India Admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea\"},\"headline\":\"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002\",\"datePublished\":\"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\"},\"wordCount\":5443,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Supreme Court of India\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\",\"name\":\"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\",\"name\":\"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\",\"description\":\"Search and read the latest judgements, orders, and rulings from the Supreme Court of India and all High Courts. A comprehensive database for lawyers, advocates, and law students.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Free judgements of Supreme Court & High Court of India | Legal India\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\",\"alternateName\":\"Legal India\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/legal-india-icon.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/legal-india-icon.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/LegalindiaCom\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/Legal_india\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea\",\"name\":\"Legal India Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Legal India Admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/legaliadmin\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.legalindia.com\\\/judgments\\\/author\\\/legal-india-admin\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","og_url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","og_site_name":"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/","article_published_time":"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":512,"height":512,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Legal India Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@legaliadmin","twitter_site":"@Legal_india","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Legal India Admin","Est. reading time":"27 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002"},"author":{"name":"Legal India Admin","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/person\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea"},"headline":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002","datePublished":"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002"},"wordCount":5443,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Supreme Court of India"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002","name":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak ... vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#website"},"datePublished":"2002-12-02T18:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2015-07-21T09:47:32+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/shiromani-gurdwara-parbandhak-vs-bagga-singh-and-ors-on-3-december-2002#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak … vs Bagga Singh And Ors on 3 December, 2002"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/","name":"Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","description":"Search and read the latest judgements, orders, and rulings from the Supreme Court of India and all High Courts. A comprehensive database for lawyers, advocates, and law students.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Free judgements of Supreme Court & High Court of India | Legal India","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#organization","name":"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India","alternateName":"Legal India","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/legal-india-icon.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalindiaCom\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Legal_india"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/#\/schema\/person\/0bfdffe9059fb8bb24a86d094609c5ea","name":"Legal India Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4faa9d728ed1af3b73d52225c7f12901ac726fe6f7ea0a3348a1d51f3a930987?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Legal India Admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.legalindia.com","https:\/\/x.com\/legaliadmin"],"url":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/author\/legal-india-admin"}]}},"modified_by":null,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6386\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}