SGPC move to appoint chief secy draws flak

[Smita]

The SGPC move to appoint Harcharan Singh as its chief secretary has drawn strong criticism from several quarters, including some SGPC executive members from the opposition, besides Sikh organisations and intellectuals. Mangal Singh, SGPC executive member, questioned the decision, saying, “The SGPC already has an army of secretaries. There are three SGPC secretaries at present instead of one, besides a number of additional and assistant secretaries. The appointment of the chief secretary will only put unnecessary burden on the premier Sikh body.” He alleged that the offerings made in the shrines were being misused rather than being utilised for the good of the Sikh Panth. He also resented the heavy pay packet offered to the chief secretary. He said he along with another SGPC executive member, Bhajan Singh Shergill, opposed this move and urged SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to make public “his compulsion” behind making the appointment. He said the appointment was not only wrong in principle but also a clear violation of the Sikh Gurdwara Act. Another SGPC executive member, Karnail Singh Panjoli, too had objected to the decision in the past and had written about it to the SGPC president. Soon after the SGPC executive committee made this decision at its meeting in Fatehgarh Sahib SAD (1920), led by Ravi Inder Singh, said it was seeking legal opinion and may well knock the doors of the judiciary to challenge the decision. Raghubir Singh Rajasansi, SAD (1920) vice-president, said they would soon consult legal experts and they would not hesitate in moving the Supreme Court over the issue. He said they had already served a legal notice to the SGPC in this regard, but despite that the SGPC had gone ahead with the move. He said the Union Home Ministry had also taken a note of the issue after they brought the SGPC’s move to its notice. He wondered as to how the SGPC could make the appointment to the post while the matter was pending with the Union Home Ministry. He claimed that the SGPC executive committee had no right to create this post. “As per the Sikh Gurdwara Act, only the SGPC General House can make an amendment in the administrative norms. At present, the new SGPC House is in limbo due to legal tangle over Sehajdhari row. Moreover, the Supreme Court had only authorised the SGPC executive committee of 2010 to manage its day-to-day affairs. Therefore, this is also the violation of the apex court’s orders,” he added.

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