The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, February 24, 2003, Chandigarh, India

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Prof Manjit Singh sacked
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Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

The SGPC chief, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, speaks at an executive meeting of the SGPC in Amritsar on Sunday. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

Amritsar, February 23
A day after the clash between activists of the Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat (SKP) and the task force in the SGPC complex, the executive committee of the SGPC today sacked Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib, on charges of corruption.

Bhai Tarlochan Singh, Head Granthi, Takht Kesgarh Sahib, has been appointed acting Jathedar.

Prof Manjit Singh is the first Jathedar who has been sacked without giving him a chance to clarify his position. Earlier, Bhai Ranjit Singh, who was placed under suspension as Jathedar, Akal Takht, on February 10, 1999, was given 30 days’ time to explain his position.

Though an inquiry committee was constituted against Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh at the time of the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh, it took four years to take action against him (Prof Manjit Singh) which raised eyebrows in Panthic circles.

The meditation centre of controversial Gurmat Sagar Trust of Prof Manjit Singh of Takht Kesgarh Sahib. — Tribune photo Manoj Mahajan

The SGPC chief, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, who presided over the meeting, said all charges of corruption levelled against Prof Manjit Singh had been proved. He said by his acts of ‘omission and commission’, Prof Manjit Singh had tried to denigrate the prestige of the institutions of Takhts. He refused to divulge the list of charges on the pretext that it would not be in the larger interest of the Panth. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, an executive member and close confidant of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said all members had accepted the ‘verbal report’ of Prof Badungar that the charges against him had been proved.

However, Mr Bhaur said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, who was also facing serious charges should also meet the same fate.

Before his appointment as Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib in 1990, Prof Manjit Singh had served as priest at a gurdwara in Nagpur. He was the most qualified Jathedar. Apart from doing master’s degree in “gurmat”, he had done journalism from Punjabi University, Patiala.

Prof Manjit Singh, who was installed as Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib, on the recommendation of Prof Darshan Singh, the then Jathedar, Akal Takht, by using the good offices of Mr Tohra, the then SGPC chief, has been shifting loyalties with a view to remaining the Jathedar. However, when Prof Darshan Singh had tendered his resignation as Jathedar, Akal Takht, in protest against ‘acrimonious scenes’ in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, he did not elicit support from him (Prof Manjit Singh).

He was rewarded for shifting loyalty by Mr Tohra with his installation as Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht in place of Prof Darshan Singh. When Mr Tohra and Mr Parkash Singh Badal parted ways before the tercentenary celebrations, Prof Manjit Singh shifted his loyalties towards the latter which was calling the shots at that time. However, he became controversial again when he presented a ‘siropa’ to Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, during his visit to Takht Kesgarh Sahib. Earlier, Capt Amarinder Singh was denied the ‘siropa’ at the information office of the Golden Temple.

He was the first Jathedar whose entry was banned at Akal Takht by the then Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh. The Jathedar (Bhai Ranjit Singh) had announced that Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh won’t be allowed to attend the meetings at Akal Takht till he submitted the accounts of the World Sikh Council. Bhai Ranjit Singh had also summoned Prof Manjit Singh at Akal Takht on February 11, 1999, to clarify his position in the wake of charges of ‘corruption’. However, Bhai Ranjit Singh was placed under suspension one day before the ‘deadline’ fixed for his appearance before the Takht.

Prof Manjit Singh was also accused of usurping 11 acres donated by Bhag Singh, a resident of Nawanshahr. After snowballing of the issue, Prof Manjit Singh had established “de-addiction” and medication centre in the name of Bhag Singh. He has also purchased huge properties at Anandpur Sahib and its adjoining areas.

By using his good offices, Prof Manjit Singh had stuck rapport with Pope John Paul, the World Bank and attended many conferences on inter-faith all over the world.

So much so Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi, Akal Takht, had also levelled serious charges of corruption against Prof Manjit Singh.

Prof Manjit Singh had made several attempts to unite the warring Akali factions in 1994 which culminated in announcement of ‘Amritsar Declaration’ (this declaration advocated separate state for the Sikhs).

ANANDPUR SAHIB: Bhai Tarlochan Singh on Sunday took over as acting Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib. While talking to mediapersons here after assuming the charge, he said he would try to come up to the expectations of the Panth.

Bhai Tarlochan Singh was born at Norabera village in Nawanshahr district in 1953. Later, his family migrated to Anandpur Sahib and he attained his education here. He joined service as Assistant Granthi in Takht Kesgarh Sahib in 1974. After six year of service he was promoted as Granthi. He took over as Head Granthi in 1995.