Amritsar, June 14
Two Sikh high priests, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti (Jathedar Akal Takht) and Giani Bhagwan Singh may lose their jobs as granthi Golden Temple and head granthi Akal Takht respectively as the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission has directed the SGPC their appointing authority to remove all employees who are above 60.
The Judicial Commission ruled that the appointment of such persons above the age of 60 was ‘clear violation’ of the service rules, framed under the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925.
Jathedar Vedanti and Giani Bhagwan Singh were given extensions as granthi Golden Temple and head granthi Akal Takht by the SGPC even after their retirement.
The two-member Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission comprising Mr Kashmir Singh Patti (president) and Mr Raghbir Singh (member) in their ad-interim order restrained Mr Harpal Singh from functioning as manager of gurdwara Jamni Sahib, Bajidpur (Ferozepur) till August 22. The Judicial Commission in its order ruled “it is clear that Mr Harpal Singh who was retired as manager in March, 1997 from the above said gurdwara was given extension by the SGPC president on March 14, 1997 and he continued for five years”.
The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission stated: “rule 67 special rules framed by the SGPC vide resolution number 969, dated July 7 1963, no employee above the age of 60 years can be retained. In these rules it is very clear that no person can be appointed or re-appointed or allowed to continue after the attainment of the age of 60 years”.
However, in this order the Judicial Commission said, “we also direct the SGPC chief to personally look into the age of all such employees of the Shiromani committee who are above 60 years of the age.
Their continuation or appointment after the age of 60 years is a clear violation of the service rules”.
If the SGPC complies with the orders of the Judicial Commission more than 24 employees may lose their jobs.
