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2. WP(C) No. 4166/2011 was filed in or about June 2011 pleading that,

(a) DSGMC is a statutory body constituted under Section 3 of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1971 for management of Sikh Gurdwaras and their properties; (b) DSGMC comprises of 46 members to be elected from various wards into which Delhi is to be divided in accordance with the provision of the Act, besides nine co-opted / nominated members; (c) the term of the Committee is of four years; (d) that the last election of the members of the DSGMC were held on 14th January, 2007 and the term of the Committee then elected expired on 8th February, 2011; (e) that on representation of the respondents/writ petitioners Dashmesh Sewa Society and Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-U.K.), the work of preparation of fresh electoral rolls and of delimitation was commenced but had not been completed; (f) that the Delhi Government was not serious about holding fresh elections for membership of DSGMC. Accordingly, mandamus was sought commanding the appellants to immediately complete the election process and conduct the elections.

(d) that to facilitate the conduct of the elections to the DSGMC at the earliest, the delimitation of the Gurdwara Wards may be deferred to be taken up after the election of the new Committee. It was also disclosed that the following schedule for finalization of electoral rolls and conduct of the general elections of the members of the DSGMC had been fixed.

"a) Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls 10.12.2011
b) Last date for filing Claims and Objections (allowing statutory period of 21 days) 31.12.2011
ii. that in the meeting held on 5th October, 2011 between the Lieutenant Governor and a delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal regarding conduct of elections of DSGMC, two crucial decisions had been taken. The first was to undertake the exercise of preparation of the fresh electoral rolls of DSGMC and the second was to undertake the delimitation of wards;
iii that as per the decision in the meeting of 5 th October, 2011 the work of preparation of electoral rolls was to be completed by 31st October, 2011 and whereafter objections thereto to be invited and decided. Similarly delimitation of wards was estimated to take another 2-3 months. The elections were thus contemplated to be held in May, 2012;

12. We have examined the provisions of the Act and the Rules in this regard.

13. Section 5(1) of the Act prescribes the term of office of a member of DSGMC as four years commencing "from the date on which the first meeting of the Committee is held under Section 15 and no longer". There is thus a prohibition in the Act itself against the term of office of a member being more than four years. However, Section 5(3) provides that the outgoing member shall continue in office until the notification of election or co-option of his successor is published under Section 12. Section 6 provides for division of Delhi into single member wards and empowers the Director Gurudwara Election to, by order determine the number of wards and the extent of each ward, and to from time to time alter or amend the number and extent of the wards. Section 7 provides for preparation of electoral rolls for every such ward. Section 8 qualifies a Sikh, of not less than 21 years of age and who has been ordinarily resident in a ward for not less than 180 days to be registered in the electoral roll of that ward. Section 9 confers a right to vote in every such person registered in the electoral roll. Section 12 empowers the Director, Gurdwara Elections appointed by the Central Government to hold the elections. Section 31 provides for settlement of disputes regarding elections, corrupt practices and electoral offences in respect of election of members of DSGMC. Rules 23, 25, 26 and 32 of the Rules (supra) are relevant for the present purpose and are set out hereinbelow:-