Interpretation

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— (a) “Hindu” includes a Buddhist, Jain, or Sikh, a member of Arya Samaj or Brahmo Samaj and a convert to Hinduism; (b) “excluded class” means any caste or class of the Hindu or Sikh community which, by reason of any custom or usage, is excluded from entering any temple or gurdwara or offering worship therein and includes a Class, caste or tribe mentioned in the Schedule to this Act or which the [Central Government] may by notification add to the Schedule; (c) “place of public amusement” means any place, enclosure, building, tent, booth or other erection, whether permanent or temporary, where music, singing, dancing or any diversion or the means of carrying on the same, is provided and to which the public are admitted; (d) “Place of public entertainment” means any place, whether Enclosed or Open, to which the public are admitted and where any kind of food or drink is supplied for consumption on the premises and includes a refreshment room, coffee-house, boarding-house, lodging-house or hotel; (e) “Sikh” has the same meaning as is given to it in section 2 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925; (f) “shop” means any premises where goods are sold either by retail or wholesale or both and includes a laundry, a hair cutting saloon or such other place where services are rendered to customers; (g) “temple” means a place, by whatever name known, which is dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or used as of right by, the Hindu community in general, as a place of public religious worship, and includes subsidiary shrines attached to such place; (h) “gurdwara” means a place, by whatever name known, which is dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or used as of right by, the Sikh community in general, as a place of public religious worship, and includes subsidiary shrines attached to such place; (i) “worship” means such religious service as the bulk of the worshippers may offer, or participate in, in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be made under this Act.