Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973

No: 15 Dated: Apr, 30 1973

THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR SIKH GURDWARAS AND RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENT ACT, 1973

(Act No. XV of 1973)

    An Act to provide for the better administration or the Sikh Gurdwaras in Jammu and Kashmir State and their properties wherever situate.

Be it enacted by the Jammu and Kashmir State legislature in the Twenty-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows :-

CHAPTER I

1. Short title, extent application and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973.

(2) It extends the whole of Jammu and Kashmir State.

(2-a) It shall apply all the Sikh Gurdwaras in the State.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, appoint in this behalf.

2. Definitions. - In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-

(a) 'Board' means the State Sikh Gurdwaras Prabhandhak Board constituted under this Act ;

(b) 'Committees' means Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee of a Sikh Gurdwara or a Group of Gurdwaras constituted under this Act;

(c) 'Property' means all the movable and immovable property attached to.a Gurdwara or standing in the name of a Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee;

(d) Gurdwara' means a place of worship where Guru Granth Sahib is kept and which is constructed by public donation or by private individual or individuals and is accessible to all Sikhs including Sehajdhari Sikhs, for worship or for religious ceremonies;

(e) 'Sikh' means a Sikh who believes in ten Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib and keep Keshas;

(f) 'Sehajdhari Sikh' means a person who believes in Guru Granth Sahib and ten Gurus hut has never kept Keshas.

(g) 'Patit Sikh' mean a Sikh who had kept Keshas but has later on shaved of;

(h) 'prescribed' means prescribed by the rules made under this Act.

2A. Application of other laws barred. - Nothing in the Jammu and Kashmir Houses and Shops Rent Control Act, 1966 shall apply to any property to which this Act applies.