Reportable Reserved on: 22/02/2024 Pronounced on: 22/07/2024 Sr. No. Contents Page Nos.

Part A Prefatory Remarks 8 Part B Introduction: Origin, Significance and Historical Background of the Galta Peeth Dispute 8-24 Part C Orders Impugned Dt. 28.03.2013 and 10.11.2016 24-25 Part D Submissions of the Petitioners 26-32 Part E Submissions of the Respondents 32-40 Part F Issues/Points of Determination 40-41 Part G Discussions and Findings 41-96 Part H Ancillary Remarks 96-100 Part I Conclusion Part J Directions 101-104 (8 of 104) Part A Prefatory Remarks

1.Since time immemorial, the history and culture of this country have been home to the quests for truth, whether it be through the material, the political or the spiritual. By virtue of the present set of petitions, this Court is called upon to exercise its adjudicatory authority, with regards to the issues emanating from the administration of Thikana Galta Ji and the ownership of its properties, which vide orders impugned dated 28.03.2013 and

10.11.2016, passed by the Assistant Commissioner, Devasthan and Commissioner, Devasthan Department (Appellate Authority) respectively, are stated to have been altered, purportedly sans the autho