M A I N   N E W S

Gurdwara panel holds 22 SGPC appointments void
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 27
The two-member Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGPC), comprising Mr Kashmir Singh Patti (president) and Mr Raghbir Singh (member) today declared 22 posts of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as ‘null and void’. These posts were filled by giving “undue promotions” in violation of bylaws of the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925.

The orders have been passed by the commission on a petition filed by Mr Iqbal Singh who had sought action against SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC secretary Harbeant Singh and Mr Gurbachan Singh, in charge establishment for violating the bylaws.

In its order, the commissioner stated, “It was the duty of the president, secretary and in charge establishment to see that the administration of the SGPC is run as per laws and bylaws, service rules and schemes made by the Shiromani Committee. It is further argued that the executive committee of the SGPC while in its order dated April 16, 2002 prepared and passed a list of employees of different categories and for different posts which can be employed for the office of the SGPC, Dharm Prachar committee and gurdwaras, covered under Section 85 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act”.

The order laid down that any posting made beyond the details given in resolutions be treated against the rules mentioning thereby null and void, earlier, the counsel for the petitioner had argued that the respondents in violation of the provisions of the Sikh Gurdwara scheme, service rules, laws and bylaws and resolutions, referred to promoted and made various appointments.

Among the employees of the SGPC who would be affected by the orders of the SGPC include, Mr Gurcharan Singh, Mr Tarlochan Singh, Mr Satnam Singh, Mr Kulbir Singh, Mr Nishan Singh, Mr Swarn Singh, Mr Baldev Singh, Mr Angrej Singh, Mr Sukhwant Singh, Mr Raghbir Singh (assistant supervisor), Mr Harbhajan Singh, Mr Mehtab Singh, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Satnam Singh, Mr Jaswinder Singh, Mr Ajit Singh, Mr Kartar Singh, Mr Baldev Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Mr Joginder Singh (assistant supervisor), Mr Kashmir Singh and Mr Narinder Singh.