In Brief
The Supreme Court dismissed writ petitions challenging the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014. The petitioners argued the Act exceeded Haryana's legislative power and violated fundamental rights. The Court held that Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 grants the Centre power only to issue operational directions for the inter-State Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), not to legislate. Successor States retain full competence to enact laws on matters within List II (State subjects) of the Seventh Schedule, including religious societies. The Haryana Act falls under Entry 32 (incorporation of corporations), not Entry 44 of List I (Parliament's exclusive domain). No fundamental rights are violated; Sikh community affairs remain under Sikh control. The judgment reaffirmed federalism principles and statutory interpretation canons.
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