Chandigarh, July 26
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur today got a breather from the Punjab and Haryana High Court when her disqualification from her post ordered by the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGJC) was stayed till further orders.
Taking up the petition filed by Bibi Jagir Kaur, challenging the July 19 order of the SGJC, Mr Justice Tapen Sen also issued notice of motion to the respondents for September 20.
The SGJC had debarred Bibi Jagir Kaur from contesting the SGPC general election for a five-year period and also pay Rs 2.5 crore to the SGPC on account of loss suffered by it due to alleged undue favours extended to kin of Akali activists in admission to SGPC-backed Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar.
In her petition, Bibi Jagir Kaur has asserted that the decision of the SGJC was without jurisdiction and arbitrary as it is based on the statement of only one person. She has termed the order as an attempt to tarnish the image of elected representatives of Sikhs.
During hearing, her counsel stated that the trust that manages the institute is an independent, legal entity and the SGPC cannot give directions to it. He also alleged that the SGJC order was based on flimsy grounds and was aimed at harassing the political opponents of ruling Congress party.
He also stoutly denied the charge that she had waived the fee due from kin of influential persons, adding that his client was actually making earnest efforts to recover the outstanding from the students.
Hearing will now resume on September
20.
