JUDGMENT :

Vikram Nath, J.

The present appeal assails the correctness of the judgment and order dated 09.03.2010 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in R.S.A No. 250 of 1983, whereby the High Court set aside the judgment and decree dated 25.9.1982 of the Additional District Judge, Hoshiarpur. The High Court held that the Civil Court's jurisdiction was barred under Section 21 of the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972¹[In short, the "Land Reforms Act"].

2. The background of this case is as follows:

2.1 The appellants, followers of the religious shrine of Dam Dama Baba Sahib Singh of Una, filed a suit for declaration and perpetual injunction against the respondents and one Smt. Sangeet Kaur, daughter of Baba Madhusudan Singh Sahib Una. The appellants contended that the land detailed in the headnote of the plaint was dedicated to the religious and charitable institution Dam Dama Sahib of Una, under the management and supervision of Baba Madhusudan Singh.

2.2 The appellants pleaded that the shrine was worshipped by them and countless Sikhs. They asserted that Shri Kala Dhari, the founder of Una and a descendant of Baba Nanak, established the shrine, which was later managed