HSGMC elections notified, voting scheduled for Jan 19

The much-awaited election for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) will be held on January 19, 2025, bringing months of speculation to an end. Justice HS Bhalla, Commissioner of Gurdwara Elections, Haryana, notified the election for the 40-member Sikh body tasked with managing, supervising, and taking over the assets of 52 gurdwaras in the state.

Poll schedule

Filing of nominations: December 18

Scrutiny of nominations: December 30

Display of valid nominations: January 1, 2025

Withdrawal of candidature: January 2

Allotment of symbols: January 2

Polling: January 19

HSGMC's mandate

The HSGMC is a statutory body responsible for managing, supervising and taking over the assets of 52 gurdwaras in Haryana.

The previous HSGMC (ad hoc) had completed its tenure in May this year. Since then, Sikh leaders have been urging the government to conduct the election. However, on August 14, the government nominated a new 41-member ad hoc HSGMC to manage the affairs of these gurdwaras temporarily.

According to the notification, the process will begin with the publication of the nomination notice on December 18. Nominations can be filed between December 20 and 28, and the scrutiny will take place on December 30. Valid nominations will be displayed on January 1, 2025, following any revisions by the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

Withdrawal of nominations, the allotment of election symbols, and the publication of polling stations will be finalised on January 2. Polling is scheduled from 8 am to 5 pm on January 19, with counting to follow immediately after.

The Supreme Court had earlier upheld the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, which brought all gurdwaras in the state under the control of HSGMC. Since its inception in 2014, the committee has largely been run by government-nominated members. The Sikh community has long demanded democratic elections for the committee to oversee the management of their religious institutions.