SGPC withdraws perks of former Takht Jathedar

As a fall out of pardon granted to the controversial Dera Sirsa cult in 2015, the then panel of Jathedars also faced the heat.

Abiding by directions of Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) has withdrawn all perks extended to former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and transferred another former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh.

Akal Takht had questioned the 2015 panel of former Takht Jathedars Giani Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takht), Giani Gurmukh Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib) and Giani Iqbal Singh (Takht Patna Sahib) to explain the circumstances under which the flip-flop decision of exonerating the controversial Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the 2007 blasphemous act was taken.

While pronouncing ‘tankhah’ to SAD president Sukhbir Badal and other ‘guilty’ Akali leaders on December 2 from Akal Takht ‘faseel’, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had stated that the clarifications submitted by three former Takht Jathedars were not found to be satisfactory. They were also held equally responsible for pardoning the Dera head and ordered the SGPC to withdraw their facilities and transfer another out of Amritsar.

Akal Takht Jathedar has also ordered that till these former Takht Jathedars appear in person at Akal Takht and submit their apology, they could not share any religious stage. Giani Gurbachan Singh had retired from the SGPC’s enrollment over a decade ago, but was put on extension to serve as Jathedar of Akal Takht till he had stepped down in October 2018 on ‘health issues’. Later, he was redeployed as coordinator of the Dharam Parchar Vaheer and was enjoying several perks extended by the SGPC.

Golden Temple general manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera said all facilities, including two vehicles, five ‘sewadars’ provided to Giani Gurbachan Singh had been withdrawn. “Giani Gurmukh Singh, at present, serving as head granthi of Akal Takht has been transferred to Gurdwara Sri Muktsar Sahib,” he said.

In 2007, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief was accused of attiring himself as the 10th Sikh Guru during a religious congregation of the sect at its headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana. In response to the apology letter by the Dera Sirsa head, on September 24, 2015, then five high priests — Giani Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takht); Giani Mal Singh (Takht Kesgarh Sahib); Giani Gurmukh Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib); Giani Iqbal Singh (Takht Patna Sahib); and Granthi Ram Singh (Takht Hazoor Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra) — had exonerated him. However, on October 16, 2015, following strong resentment among the Sikh community, they had withdrawn the ‘pardon’.