1. A Statement under Section 6 of the urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 was filed before the Appropriate Authority, by the petitioner before us. According to the statement, the petitioner was a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. It held an extent of 121.94 acres of urban land. But in view of Section 19(vii) of the Act, the chapter relating to ceiling was not applicable to the lands held by the petitioner society. After a preliminary enquiry by the authorized officer, a draft statement under Section 8(1) of the Act was issued to the petitioner. It was indicated therein that the petitioner held an extent of 4,76,848.66 sqr. meters of land in the town of Ranchi; that an extent of 122690.26 sqr. meters was occupied by buildings and other structures and that the Society held an extent of 3,54, 158.40 sqr. meters as being in excess of the ceiling area prescribed by the Act. The petitioner Society filed objections in terms of Section 8(3) of the Act. The main contention raised by the petitioner Society was that the chapter relating to ceiling on urban land was not applicable to it in view of the fact that in was a Cooperative Society engaged in relig