Few Sikhs qualify for gurdwara poll

New Delhi:The city is home to an estimated 10 lakh Sikh voters,but only 1.9 lakh have enrolled with the states directorate of gurdwaras to elect members to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.The panels four-year tenure has ended and polls are scheduled later this year.Lukewarm response from the community has triggered concern among Sikh leaders in the city.

To be a voter,a person has to fit into the definition of a Sikh as laid out in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1971.Besides,one needs to fill up Form 2,which seeks a declaration from the applicant that he does not trim or shave his hair,does not smoke or consume liquor and is a Sikh as per definition of the word given in section 2 (n) of the Act.Not many can pass this eligibility test,but Sikh leaders attribute the low enrolment to growing disenchantment among citys Sikhs to gurdwara politics.But the directorate is still hopeful of registering at least 3.5 to 4 lakh voters in its final voter list before the polls.

The form ends with a footnote saying any person who makes a statement or declaration which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false can be punished under the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act,1971,under Rule 36 of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (Registration of Electors) Rule,1973.Such a person can be summoned by gurdwara authorities to give an explanation and may be asked to pledge that he would not violate principles of Sikhism again

.The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC),an autonomous organization with 51 elected members,has a four-year tenure and manages the gurdwaras in Delhi.The last election was held in January,2007 and Paramjit Singh Sarna from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) was elected president.A counterpart of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee of Amritsar,this committee operates independently.

To revise the voter list,we are using the latest data on Sikh voters available with Delhis chief electoral officer.The Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act lays down a definition of a Sikh and to participate in gurdwara elections,every applicant has to give a declaration to fulfil that definition, said the minister in charge of gurdwara elections,Arvinder Singh Lovely.

with thanks : times of india : link above.


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