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DSGMC elections !

The Supreme Court has directed the authorities concerned that election of the DSGMC should be completed before December 31, 2012. 

New Delhi, September 17

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), the Shiromani Aklai Dal (Badal) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-UK) today welcomed the Supreme Court's directions for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee election that is due to be held after more than one year. 

Delhi unit chief of the SAD Badal, Manjit Singh (GK) said that the Supreme Court today directed the authorities concerned that election of the DSGMC should be completed before December 31, 2012. 

He said as the identity cards were not ready, the court said that photo identity cards issued by the Election Commission could be used for gurdwara election also. If the voters do not have photo identity cards, the other identity cards issued by the government could be used. 

He said that general election for gurdwara committee had been delayed for the last two years. But now it cannot be delayed after the Supreme Court's direction. 

Welcoming the court decision, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-UK), Jasjit Singh said that it was a historic decision for the Sikh community in Delhi as they were eagerly waiting for the election but those in power were getting it delayed. 

The case in the Supreme Court was filed by him and the Dashmesh Sewa Society, Jasjit said.

President of the DSGMC, who is heading the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), Paramjeet Singh Sarna said that he welcomed this decision. The election would be held within the given time. The community had given him chance to work for it. If the community recognizes his work, it will give him another chance for service, Sarna said.

with thanks Link for detailed news : 
www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120918/delhi.htm#6

DSGMC is public authority, comes under purview of RTI Act: HC

New Delhi: The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is a "public authority" and comes under the purview of the Right to Information Act, the Delhi High Court has held.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also dismissed the DSGMC's appeal against the single judge order which had held it as "public authority".

"Once we read the definition of 'public authority' in Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, obvious conclusion would be that the appellant(DSGMC) is a 'public authority' as it is constituted by the Act of the Parliament. Undeniably, the appellant is a statutory body under the Delhi Sikh Gurudwaras Act. It is constituted under Section 3 of the DSG Act," the bench said.

The bench rejected the Committee counsel K T S Tulsi's argument that though the DSGMC may have been established by a law made by the Parliament but it is not a public authority as it did not receive funds directly or indirectly from government. 

"We, thus, hold that once it is found that an authority or body or institution of self government is established or constituted in any manner prescribed in the RTI Act, then there is no further requirement of such a body to be either owned or controlled or substantially financed by an appropriate government," the bench further said.

On July 22, 2007, the single judge bench of the High Court had held that the Sikh body was a 'public authority' and falls under the ambit of RTI Act . 

PTI

with thanks : Zee News : Link

Video : Sri Guru Teg Bahadar Services Training Institute : DSGMC

Another video : USA Gurudwara shooting

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2201399/Time-use-deadly-force-Video-footage-shows-police-officer-arriving-Sikh-temple-shooting.html

Video: Police release dash-cam of Sikh temple shooting

Sikhs to launch 'Forgotten Citizens' to mark 1984 riots

On the 29th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, a number of human rights organizations, religious and social groups will start a public campaign in the first week of November, under the banner, 'Forgotten Citizens' to create mass awareness on the struggle waged by the next of kin f those who perished in these riots. The aim would be highlight the cases of people, still awaiting justice.

Senior Supreme Court advocate HS Phoolka will be spearheading the campaign. He has been fighting the cases of riot victims in court. The campaign to be initiated from New Delhi, will commence with a 'Akhand Paath' on November 1 at gurdwara Bangla Sahib. A 'bhog' will be organised at the same gurdwara on November 3. 

 

Phoolka added that a photo exhihibtition depicting the brutal killings of Sikh men, women and children will be organised at the same gurdwara. 

On November 3, as many as 3,000 turbans, each bearing the name of a victim killed during the riots, will be displayed either at India Gate or at Jantar Mantar. 

Phoolka added that 3,000 was the official figure of Sikhs killed during the riots as per government records, though the number was on the higher side.  Phoolka, along with former Jarnail Singh, also met Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh. 

"The Jathedar has told us that he will consult the heads of the other Takhts before arriving at a decision on whether to allow such a display of the Sikh head gear or not. We respect his views and will wait for his verdict," said Phoolka. 

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

BJP reaches out to Sikh Community

Jammu, September 08 (Scoop News) – Two successive meetings of prominent Sikh activists were held at BJP headquarters here under the chairmanship of BJP National Executive Member & State Chief Spokesperson  Dr. Jitendra Singh, who has also been assigned by the party to coordinate with Sikh community for the redressal of their community’s problems.

The prominent Sikh leaders who attended these meetings included S. Charanjit Singh Khalsa, S. Varinderjit Singh, S.Gurdyal Singh Bali, S. Harvinder Singh , S. Pritam Singh Nirdosh and S. Kulwant Singh.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that this was part of an initiative to reach out to the neglected sections of Sikh community in the state so that they feel physically as well as psychologically a part of the Jammu and Kashmir mainstream and do not feel alienated in any way. He said the Sikh community has traditionally been known for its uncompromising patriotism, nationalist commitment and uprightness. It is ironic that even when the country’s Prime Minister belong to Sikh community, repeated pleas from Sikh leaders and their organisations in J&K to the Prime Minister have failed to yield any results, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that in the last six months, there have been a series of group meetings with Sikh members of different backgrounds which has helped identify certain major problems faced by the community in the state. He said, irrespective of political affiliations, the main issues of concern for the community include plight of Sikhs living in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir valley, the problems of Sikh refugees from PoK and other parts and security concerns of Sikh families living in the Kashmir valley. He said the party plans to draw a long term roadmap for redressal of sikh communities issues and as a part of this effort, a Sikh sammelan is also planned in last week of this month.

BJP State Press Secretary Balbir Ram was also present in these meetings.   

with thanks : groundreport : LINK   

Sikh doctor leads stir against Toronto gurdwara membership freeze

 

A Sikh doctor hailing from Windsor in Ontario has gone on a hunger strike along with his supporters to protest membership freeze by the executive committee of the Sikh Cultural Society of Windsor. Dr Sukhdev Singh Kooner, who previously headed the committee, alleged that the executive committee is freezing the membership of 400 persons, including him, to take control of the gurdwara. The charges have been rubbished by the committee members.

Accompanied by a large number of supporters, Kooner started his strike on Sunday at Gurdwara Khalsa Parkash, and is since surviving only on water. "Everyone has the right to be a member; we did not have any other choice left," he said.

 

The Windsor police are minutely watching the protest to save any untoward incident and to keep an eye upon the doctor's health. In a news release, supporters of Kooner said he and some of his followers are suffering the effects of not eating and he has "already lost eight pounds". 

with thanks : hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

Gravestone of Duleep Singh's son restored

On a solemn occasion marked by cloudy skies and a piper playing the lament, Sikhs, Scots and others came together at a church in Perthshire in Scotland to commemorate one of Maharaja Duleep Singh's children, who died there in 1865. 

Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh empire, was exiled to Britain in 1854, aged 13, after the British annexation of Punjab.

Known for his lavish lifestyle, he moved to Scotland and came to be known as the Black Prince of Perthshire.

Duleep Singh's child was born in Perthshire on August 4, 1865, but died within hours. The child was buried in Perthshire. 

The gravestone where the child was buried was restored and consecrated at the ceremony organised by the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail (ASHT) in Kenmore Kirk on Thursday.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

California schools to teach about Sikhs

California governor Edmund Brown has signed into law the two legislations protecting the rights of the Sikhs in the State and including information about the religion in high school curriculum. One of the legislations updates the California high school curriculum so that every student in the state learns about the about the history, tradition and theology of Sikhism and California Sikhs. The other legislation clarifies the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to ensure that employees receive equal protection under law, specifically protecting religious observances such as the turban, hijab and yarmulke.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.