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"3. The dohli tenure is a peculiar kind of tenure to be found in the south-eastern districts of Punjab. It is a rent free grant of a small plot of land by the village community for the benefit of a temple, 4 of 11 Neutral Citation No:=2024:PHHC:143951 RSA-1555-1990 (O&M) -5- mosque or shrine, or to a person for a religious purpose. In the revenue records the proprietary body are recorded as the owners of the property, and the grantee is recorded as a tenant in the column of cultivation. So long as the purpose, for which the grant is made, is carried out, it cannot be resumed, but should the holder fail to carry out the duties of his office, the proprietors can eject him and put in some one else under a like tenure.
4. It is beyond dispute that tenure of this kind cannot be alienated by sale or mortgage, and there can be little doubt that any alienation of that character, if made by the dohlidar would be absolutely void. "

[13] The same further came up for consideration before this Court in Baba Badri Dass's case, reported as 1982(1) ILR 491 wherein, it was held as under:-

" We find the expression 'Dohli' or 'Dohlidar' significantly missing from both the Punjab Tenancy Act and the Punjab Land Revenue Act but alluded to only in the Manual in the following manner:-

9 of 11 Neutral Citation No:=2024:PHHC:143951 RSA-1555-1990 (O&M) -10- In view of these observations, the said case is clearly distinguishable and has no applicability on the facts of the present case, which arises out of a regular suit filed by the landowners against the Dohlidar, as he failed to perform his duties and transferred the land by way of lease. Such a matter was considered by the Division Bench in Dharma's case (supra). It was observed therein in para 7 "that the Dohli is not a permanent tenure and the moment the Dohlidar fails to render the require services for which the Dohli was created, the Dohli rights are extinguished and property reverts to the original proprietors."

(ii) 'Dohlidar' may be a landowner qua his tenant in the situation mentioned in Baba Badri Dass's case (supra). 1982(1) ILR 491 relied.
(iii) 'Dohlidar' may be an owner if 'dohli' is in the nature of gift and at the time of creating 'dohli', no condition for use of the dohli land for the benefit of a temple, mosque or shrine or other religious purpose is imposed, as noticed in judgments of this Court in Baba Badri Dass case, 1982(1) ILR 491 and Dhani Ram's case (supra) (1984 PLJ 234).