Judgment

M.M.PUNCHHI, J.

(1) THIS appeal has arisen from the judgment and order dated 10/08/1978 passed by a division bench of Punjab and Haryana High court at Chandigarh in Regular First Appeal No. 252 of 1963.

(2) THE appellant, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar, (hereinafter referred to as SGPC) is a product of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The State government of Punjab received a petition under Section 7(1 of the Act from Sikh worshippers of a Gurdwara, numbering more than 50, qualified residence-wise to so apply, praying for the Gurdwara to be declared a Sikh Gurdwara. As per requirement of Ss. (2 of Section 7 of the Act, the name of the Gurdwara given was Gurdwara Sahib Bara situated in the revenue estate of village Balian, Tehsil and District Sangrur. A list of properties said to be belonging to the Gurdwara was also given, besides the names of the persons who were in possession of those properties. As required, under Ss. (3 of Section 7, publication of the petition under Section 7(1 and the list of the properties provided under Section 7(2 were notified on 1/11/1960 and notices under Section 7