The Sikh Gurdwaras (Supplementary) Act, 1925 was enacted to address specific legal and jurisdictional gaps in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, which was a landmark legislation aimed at reforming the management and administration of Sikh gurdwaras (places of worship) in Punjab. The Supplementary Act, though brief, played a critical role in validating and reinforcing certain provisions of the original Act, particularly those related to the jurisdiction and procedural authority of the High Court.
During the early 20th century, the Sikh community in British India was deeply engaged in a movement to reclaim control of gurdwaras from hereditary custodians (mahants) who were often accused of corruption and mismanagement. This movement, known as the Akali Movement or Gurdwara Reform Movement, sought to place gurdwaras under the control of elected representatives of the Sikh community. The British colonial government, under pressure from the Sikhs, passed the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 to formalize this transition and establish a legal framework for gurdwara management.
However, the original Act faced legal challenges regarding its jurisdictional validity, particularly concerning the powers it conferred on the High Court. The Supplementary Act, 1925 was introduced to address these concerns by explicitly validating the provisions of the original Act that pertained to the High Court's jurisdiction and procedures. This was necessary because the original Act, being a provincial legislation, was questioned for its authority to modify the jurisdiction of the High Court, a matter typically reserved for central legislation.
Short Title and Commencement (Section 1):
The Act was titled the Sikh Gurdwaras (Supplementary) Act, 1925, and it came into force on January 1, 1926, as notified by the State Government. This section aligned the Act's enforcement with the original Act's timeline.
Validation of Jurisdictional Provisions (Section 2):
This was the core provision of the Supplementary Act. It declared that the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 would be as valid as if it had been passed by the Indian Legislature, particularly in matters where it altered the jurisdiction of the High Court or prescribed its procedures. This validation was crucial to preempt any legal challenges questioning the provincial legislature's authority over such matters.
Repealed Section (Section 3):
Originally, this section directed amendments to Section 12 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, but it was later repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938. The repeal reflected the evolving legal landscape and the need to streamline legislation.
The Supplementary Act, 1925 was instrumental in solidifying the legal foundation of the original Act. By validating the jurisdictional provisions, it ensured that the High Court could effectively adjudicate disputes related to gurdwara management, thereby supporting the broader goals of the Gurdwara Reform Movement. The Act also demonstrated the interplay between provincial and central legislatures in British India, highlighting how supplementary legislation could be used to address constitutional ambiguities.
Over time, the Act underwent minor textual amendments to reflect political changes, such as the substitution of "Local Government" with "State Government" post-independence and the adaptation of terms like "High Court of Judicature of Lahore" to "High Court of Punjab" following the partition of India in 1947.

The Sikh Gurdwaras (Supplementary) Act, 1925 may have been a short piece of legislation, but its role in reinforcing the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 was pivotal. It provided the necessary legal backing to ensure the smooth functioning of gurdwara reforms, which were central to the Sikh community's struggle for self-governance and religious autonomy during the colonial era. The Act remains a testament to the dynamic relationship between law, religion, and social reform in Indian history.