‘Sikhs not coming forward to participate in SGPC polls’

In the light of poor response from Sikh voters to get their votes made ahead of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, the state government extended July 14 deadline by a month.

The Sikh leaders have been making appeals to the Sikhs to get forms filled up and submit to the MCs in urban areas and patwaries in the rural areas before August 14.

To mobilise the Sikhs qualified for becoming voters, Jathedar Harpal Singh Pali and Haryana Akali Dal Secretary General Jathedar Ranbir Singh Fauji held a joint press conference here today, admitted that Sikhs were not coming forward to participate in the electoral process.

with thanks : source : Indian Express : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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Phoolka says allegations part of deep rooted conspiracy

Accusing the DSGMC of levelling reckless allegations against him, senior lawyer H S Phoolka, who has been appearing for the victims in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, on Saturday claimed it was part of deep rooted conspiracy as some of cases were finally reaching a logical conclusion. The advocate had announced his withdrawal from all the riots cases following allegations of "personal benefits" levelled against him by a Delhi High Court judge and President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

However, he took back his decision after Akal Takth --the apex decision making body in the Sikh religion --intervened and asked him to continue appearing on behalf of the victims.

"No money whatsoever has been paid to me by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for the expenses or for the fee," Phoolka said in an email.

with thanks : source : Hindustan Times : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee comes under RTI :HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has held that Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is a public authority making it mandatory to reveal information under the RTI Act.

Justice S Muralidhar dismissed the plea of the committee for not bringing it within the ambit of the transparency law.

The committee had approached the court after the Central Information Commission had directed it to reveal information sought under the RTI Act and set up the necessary infrastructure for the purpose.

with thanks : source : Times of India : link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Phoolka to file case against ex-HC judge

After the tussle between the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Paramjit Singh Sarna, and senior advocate H S Phoolka, a fresh twist developed on Friday, with the lawyer saying he would file a defamation case against former Delhi High Court judge R S Sodhi for terming his actions “professional misconduct”.

Phoolka had on Wednesday morning announced he would withdraw from all 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases as Sarna had accused him of “wasting” money given to him for the cases on behalf of the victims. However, after the Akal Takht intervened and requested Phoolka to stay on, he deferred his final call till Monday, when Sarna would explain his statement to the Takht.

A day later, Justice (retired) Sodhi, who now practises in the Supreme Court, said a lawyer must render the accounts whenever asked for by his client. Not doing so amounted to professional misconduct, he added.

With thanks : source : Indian Express : Link for the detailed news in headline above.

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Students’ body protests against Sarna brothers, burns effigy

Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) held a state-wide protest on Thursday against Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna, for alllegedly making derogatory remarks against H S Phoolka, counsel for the 1984 riot victims.

Under the leadership of their president Paramjeet Singh Khalsa, the members of SSF (Mehta) held a protest march from Gurdwara Kalgidhar Singh Sabha to Jagraon Bridge and burnt the effigies of Sarna brothers. Khalsa said, “Phoolka has been sincerely fighting for the cause of the victims of 1984 riots. By commenting against such person, the Sarna brothers have exposed that they are hand-in-glove with the Congress government and with anti-Sikh forces.”

with thanks : source : Indian Express : Link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Akal Takht summons Sarna over his remarks against Phoolka

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Tuesday summoned Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Parmjeet Singh Sarna to clarify his stands on the allegations that he has made against Advocate H. S. Phoolka.

Advocate Phoolka has been fighting cases for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots cases for over 26 years.

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Tuesday summoned Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Parmjeet Singh Sarna to clarify his stands on the allegations that he has made against Advocate H. S. Phoolka.

Advocate Phoolka has been fighting cases for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots cases for over 26 years.

Perturbed by the allegations by Sarna, Phoolka has threatened to withdraw from all the cases he has been fighting to get justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He has approached Akal Takht in the matter.

DSGMC chief Sarna has alleged that the advocate has wasted the money in course of the campaign for personal gains.

Sarna claimed that DSGMC has spent over one crore rupees to fight the cases in courts.

Following his remarks, Sarna has been summoned to appear before the Akal Takht on July 25 and 26.

In Amritsar, addressing the media, Akal Takht Chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said that Sarna's allegations against Phoolka was a serious matter, and it's been decided to call Sarna before the Akal Takht for clarifications.

with thanks : source : SIFY : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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Senior lawyer Phoolka withdraws from anti-Sikh riot cases

A senior advocate, appearing for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in different courts, on Tuesday decided to withdraw from all the cases following allegations of “personal benefits” levelled against him.

“I’m constrained to take a hard decision to withdraw from all the cases of 1984 riots in view of a statement made by Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee.

“I have not charged a single penny for the (riot) cases but now even near clerical expenses incurred by the Gurudwara Committee are termed as wastage,” senior counsel H.S. Phoolka said.

“I’m forced to take this drastic step because these allegations immensely disturbed me,” he said.

with thanks : source : The Hindu : for detailed news, plz click the link in headline above.

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HC dismisses Sajjan Kumar’s plea in anti-Sikh riots case

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s petition challenging a trial court’s order to frame charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Former Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar is facing prosecution in two cases in which he has been accused of inciting a mob against Sikh community in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984, leading to killings of several persons.

In the order, Justice Vipin Sanghi questioned the motive of Delhi Police for cancelling the FIR against the politician when the matter was still being probed by the CBI.

A trial court had termed the case as “untraced” in July 2008 after the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report stating that the complainant was not traceable.

Rejecting the plea of Kumar, Justice Sanghi directed the trial court to hold the proceedings against him expeditiously in the anti-Sikh riots cases.

The trial court had in May this year framed charges under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to property), 153A (promoting enmity between different communities) and other provisions of the IPC paving the way for trial of Kumar and five others.

CBI had accused Kumar of provoking people against members of a particular community during the carnage that led to the killing of five persons in Delhi Cantonment area.

with thanks : source : THE HINDU : detailed story can be viewed from original link in headline above.

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US-based NRIs raise funds for imparting education to Punjab's needy students

ANI

The contribution of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) belonging to Punjab is immense as far as providing help in the sectors of health, sports and education.

NRIs residing in the United Sates have been making efforts to encourage and mobilise education in Punjab.

Members of the Washington-based Sikh Human Development Foundation (SHDF) has raised over 100,000 dollars for providing scholarships for Punjab's needy students. The aim is sound and clear - to persuade students to go for higher studies.

According to an estimate, over five million, almost one third of the total Indians overseas, belong to Punjab. They have invested huge amounts of money in setting up mansions, schools, hospitals and sports complexes in the state.

With thanks : source : SIFY : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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