Judgment

UNTWALIA, J. - There is a Dharamshala situated in village Kaddon, District Patiala in the State of Punjab. A part of the same institution was another Dera or Dharamshala situate at Jasra Tehsil near Ludhiana. The fact that one Bishan Dass, Chela of Prem Dass was the Mahant of this institution at the end of the 19th century is not in dispute. Bishan Dass had four Chelas :- (1) Parmanand, (2) Narain Dass, (3) Atma Ram and (4) Ram Dass. Although Narain Dass was his junior-most Chela, Bishan Dass because of his incapacity and ill-health made Narain Dass the Mahant during his lifetime. Shortly thereafter the other three Chelas died one after the other. It appears that Narain Dass also died during the lifetime of Bishan Dass. One Ganga Ram was the Chela of Narain Dass, Ganga Ram was appointed the Mahant with the approval of Bishan Dass. This fact is evidenced by the Mutation Order of the Revenue Authority passed on 10-3-1908, Ext. P-2. After the death of Ganga Ram, Sobha Ram became the Mahant. It is not clear from the records of this case as to when Ganga Ram died and when Sobha Ram became the Mahant and how. What is clear, however, is that parties are not at variance so far. Sob