M A I N   N E W S

Giani Puran Singh stays
Panel formed to probe corruption charges
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 21 — The SGPC executive today confirmed the controversial appointment of Giani Puran Singh as Head Granthi of the Golden Temple. The appointment had caused resentment among the Sikh high priests.

The executive members, including Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur, raised certain objections but the appointment was confirmed.

In yet another significant decision, the executive authorised Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of Akal Takht, to call either Giani Charan Singh or any other granthi of the Golden Temple for the proposed meetings of the Sikh clergy.

The executive authorised Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, SGPC president, to answer the letter written by the Akal Takht Jathedar who had sought clarification from the committee on the non-participation of Giani Puran Singh at the meeting of Sikh clergy.

With this, it is clear that Giani Puran Singh won’t be attending the meetings of the Sikh clergy in future which is mandatory to maintain the concept of “Miri Piri” (religious-temporal). The decision would certainly raise eyebrows about whether the SGPC priest from attending meetings of high priests.

Giani Puran Singh had excommunicated three high priests, including Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar of Damdama Sahib, and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi, Akal Takht, from the Sikh Panth for allegedly violating the directive of Akal Takht on the controversial “Nanakshahi jantri”.

However, the “hukamnama” was revoked by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti on March 29 a few hours after his installation as Akal Takht Jathedar. However, Giani Puran Singh had claimed the “hukamnama” once issued could not be withdrawn.

Though the SGPC executives has found a temporary way out of the situation by authorising Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to call granthis of the Golden Temple in place of Giani Puran Singh at meetings of the Sikh clergy the decision is bound to raise many questions on the issue of “maryada” besides the authority of the SGPC to stop any high priest from attending such meetings.

Meanwhile, the SGPC executive has constituted a three-member inquiry committee comprising Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, senior vice-president, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, general secretary, and Mr Mohinder Singh Romana, executive member, to probe the allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds during the time of Bibi Jagir Kaur. Payments to schools, clubs and other institutes which were made in gross violation of SGPC bylaws have also been stopped.

The SGPC executive has also decided to implement the orders of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.