A case involving an issue vital to a large portion of the Sikh community in Shanghat opened before Judge P. Grant Jones in H.M. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Mar. 31. Bishan Singh, Aimer Singh, and 'Thaker Singh, on bbohalf of themselves and all. other members of the Gurdwara, or Khalsa Diwan, sued Dalip Singh,' temporary Granthi, oF priest, of the community, asking for on injunction restraining him from continuing as Granthi, for n order to be made for him to mand over all the Gurdwara property in his possession, for him to vacate his] Premises in the Gurdwara, and for slamages suffered by the Gurdwara through the action of defendant.
Plaintiffs represented themselves us the president, secretary, and treasurer of the Executive Committee of the Gurdwara, Mr. Ranald Me-Donald is appearing for them and Mr. K. B, Newman for the defendant.
'The plaintiffs' case is that about Qetober, 1992, the then Granthi, Warysm Singh, resigned owing to ill-health "and, at a meeting of the Executive Committee, it was resolved to appoint a temporary Granthi from the Mahja section of the community, pond: ng the arrival of a permanent Cranthi from India, Defendant was appointed temporary Granthi, and he accepted the post by loiter. After the arrival of Chet Singh, the permanent Granthi, it was resolved to determine the appointment of the defendant as temporary Granthi, and to give him certain rewards for his services. He was to have no reward if he vacated his office. Defendant refused to comply with ihis decision, and also refused to vacate his effec when. ordered, Since then, defendant had wrongfully purported to act as Grarthi fo the Gurdwara, and had Incurred them a loss of $1,000.
The defence was a general denial et the allegations, and included state-j; ments that defendant had no know-Tedge of the Executive Committee snootings in which the decision had been made, and that he had received Instructions from 9 commilice elected fat a meeting in Hongkew Park to remain in office, After reading the statement of claim, Mr, MeDonald said that would welcome extrication fom the "Servonian Bog" in which the Silkh community were at the present moment. He quoted from the Bible the passage reading "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children' of God."
The Judge: The community of peace-makers Is rather scanty.
Mr. MeDonald: Why not set up a preestent in the community of Shang In evidence, Bishan Singh, presi-dont of the Execulive Committee of the Gurdwara, said he was present at mesting of the executive committee on February 4, 1935, when it was edded thai defendant should be appointed temporary Granth, He was also present at a meeting of the exeecutive committee on March 31, 1995. Ata. meeting of the commit ice on July 14, it was settled that defendant shout "hand over charge to Chet Singh. The defendant was present at this meeting, and the resolution was communicated to him. He said his party would not let him comply with the resolution, and he refused to accept it. The resolution was also read before' the congregation on July 14, 1925, when everybody except the assistant Granth agreed to accept it. The committee had served notice on he defendant to vacate his office, but since July 16 of last year defendant had continued to act as Granthi "by force.
Cross-examined, witness said ho was elected president of the Gurdwara on Sune G last year by all the members, of the Malwa and Mahja sections of the community.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.