HC stays own order on voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday stayed its September 1 ruling allowing Sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs) to exercise franchise in the September 18 Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections following a petition by the Centre seeking recall of the order.

The full bench of the court also issued notices to Sehajdhari Sikh Federation (SSF), SGPC, states of Punjab and Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh on the petition of the Centre and asked them to submit their reply on September 13.

Tempers ran high as the application filed by the Centre came up for hearing. Mukesh Berry, Additional Advocate General of Punjab, accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy. “A novel method was adopted by the Central government and the petitioners to get relief from the court. It is a conspiracy between the Central government and the petitioners,” he added.

Berry also requested the court to seek an explanation from senior lawyer Harbhagwan Singh, who had allegedly made a “false” statement before the bench that the Centre has decided to withdraw the notification, whereby Sehajdhari Sikhs were denied voting rights in SGPC elections. Reacting to the request, Justice M M Kumar, speaking for the full bench, remarked that it was for the court to decide.

On the other hand, Assistant Solicitor General of India Anmol Rattan Sidhu — appearing on behalf of the Union government — vehemently objected to the allegation of conspiracy levelled by Berry.

Directing the lawyers not to indulge in cross talks, Justice Kumar stated that “time has come when we must demand everything in writing”.

with thanks : Indian Express : link above for detailed news.

DSGMC Press Conference on SGPC elections

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Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Jheel Khurenja, Delhi

DSGMC Press Conference on SGPC elections

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Shaven Sikhs can't vote in SGPC polls: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Centre has assured Parliament that it has no intention of amending a notification curtailing the rights of sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in theSikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, nipping a potentially emotive political agitation.

The Centre acted after all panthic groups and theShiromani Akali Dal criticized the submission by its counsel to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the ban on shaven Sikhs voting in the SGPC elections was being reviewed.

The move set off shockwaves in Punjab where Akalis swiftly accused Congress of interfering in Sikh affairs and SGPC election due later this month, making the debate sharper. It is understood that the submission was prompted by senior Punjab Congress leaders, who felt the gambit could be politically beneficial.

The developments led to urgent fire-fighting at the Centre, with the government telling BJP that the counsel did not hold the brief and appeared to have misled the court. It was conveyed that the Centre has no intention of tampering with SGPC election rules. 


with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.


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Pak bans more than one visit by Sikh pilgrims

AMRITSAR: Pakistan government's decision not to allow more than one visit in a year to Sikh devotees wanting to visit shrines in that country and denial of visas to Indian pilgrims whose passports mention the place of birth as `undivided India`, has dismayed the devout.

At present, Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha, Bhai Mardana Yadgar Kirtan Darbar Society and Haryana Gurdham Yatra Committee regularly send jathas there on religious occasions.

Confirming this, visa attachA©, Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Mohammad Kamal, told TOI on Friday, "These are policy matters and the decision has been taken at higher level."

"This is very unfortunate, it has hurt the Sikhs` religious sentiments," said president of Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha Swaran Singh Gill. He said there were many Sikhs wanting to visit Pakistan on religious occasions, but now they would have to wait for a year.
According to protocol, four jathas are sent to Pakistan- on Baisakhi, martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev and Ranjit Singh, and birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. 


with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.



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No changes in election norms for SGPC, government clarifies

The central government on Friday clarified that no changes had been made in the norms of elections to the Sikh religious body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and that the exercise would be held according to schedule on September 18.

The clarification came a day after a central government counsel told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a 2003 notification preventing Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections had been withdrawn. The court was hearing pleas seeking voting rights to Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs in the SGPC elections.

The issue was taken up in the Rajya Sabha by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as soon as the house met at 11 am.

Reading a statement on behalf of Home Minister P Chidambaram, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government had not withdrawn the notification.

Bansal said no one had briefed the advocate, Harbhagwan Singh. “In particular, he had no authority to make the statement that the notification would be withdrawn.”

“Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to resend or withdraw the notification dated October 8, 2003. Elections to the SGPC will be held as per schedule. Government will also bring the above facts to the notice of the high court today,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the counsel's statement had created tension inPunjab.

“In the last 24 hours, huge tension has been created. Impression is that government is interfering in a religious institution... is the government planning to proceed and take action,” Jaitley asked.

After Jaitley's statement, Chidambaram got up to say that he would ask the senior counsel why he made such statement.

“I will call the senior counsel and ask him under what circumstances he made the statement. At this stage, I submit we need not attribute any motive to any one. Let us find out what has happened,” Chidambaram said.

with thanks : DNAIndia : link above for detailed news.

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Ban Removed on Sehajdharis Voting in SGPC Polls

The Centre today informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it has withdrawn a 2003 notification preventing 'Sehajdhari' or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections.

The Centre told the bench, comprising justices M M Kumar, Alok Singh and Gurdev Singh, that the October 8, 2003, notification was issued "without application of mind" and that its withdrawal now enables Sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in the September 18 polls.

The government's reply came on a seven-year old plea filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation challenging the notification.

With today's development, the voters' list for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee general house elections will be re-drafted, if Gurdwara Elections Commission allows the non-baptised Sikhs to participate in the polls. The process could delay the elections.

The GEC secretary, Avtar Singh Narula, said the commission will react to the development after it receives a a copy of the reply.

Appearing for Union of India, advocate Harbhagwan Singh told the notification was issued "without any application of mind only on the basis of the resolution passed by the SGPC on March 3, 2002."

Taking note of the assertions, the court said: "In view of the statement by senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh, the reference made to the full Bench is rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such."

The petition was filed by the president of Sehajdhari Sikh Federation, Paramjeet Singh Ranu, who welcomed the notification's withdrawal and appealed to the SGPC to treat them at par with other Sikhs and allow them to participate in the polls.

However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told reporters at Ludhiana that he condemns the withdrawal of the notification issued by the NDA government as the Sehajdhari Sikhs did not conform to the definition of true Sikhs.

Makkar said the UPA government's action was a "direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs by the Congress, which could not be tolerated."

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who heads SAD, also lashed out at the Centre and said his party is "heading for a clean sweep on all 170 odd (SGPC) seats in the forthcoming poll, and the Centre's move comes in the wake of its utter frustration over its inability to take illegal and illegitimate control over Sikh religious affairs."

Describing the Centre's move as "dangerous", he said, "I am shocked at the insensitivity of the central leaders and of the Congress High Command toward the Sikh sentiments."

with thanks : outlookindia : link above for detailed news.


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DSGMC

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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