SGPC files review petition in Supreme Court in HSGMC Act case: Dhami
Amritsar, October 18 – The general meeting to elect office-bearers including President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and members of executive committee will be held on November 9. This was announced by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday.
The general meeting will be held at SGPC’s headquarters Teja Singh Samundri Hall at 1 pm, in which, president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and 11 executive members will be elected.
Addressing the press conference at SGPC office in Amritsar, SGPC President said the office-bearers of SGPC are elected in the month of November every year, and this year, the general meeting will be held on November 9.
He said that the SGPC being the representative Sikh body, always strives to manage Gurdwara Sahibs as per the Panthic code of conduct besides making efforts to pursue issues of community and it is performing its duties diligently.
“Most important issue at this time is the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners), about which the SGPC is serious. In this regard, a five-member panel of senior lawyers has been formed, which will work to take the whole matter forward from legal aspects. A meeting of Sikh scholars and senior lawyers will also be convened soon”, said he.
He said that the issue of separate Gurdwara management committee for Haryana will also be discussed in a meeting with the scholars and lawyers.
“Yesterday, the SGPC filed a review petition in the case related to Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014 and today, SGPC member from Kurukshetra Harbhajan Singh Masanan has also filed a review petition on his behalf”, said Dhami.
He said centenary congregation dedicated to Shaheedi Saka (martyrdom massacre) Panja Sahib is being organised at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar on October 27, and the issue of Bandi Singhs and separate Haryana Gurdwara committee will also be discussed in a Panthic gathering on this day. Maximum Sikh organisations and Panthic intellectuals should participate in this congregation, so that future programs can be announced.
Dhami said that to assist the Bandi Singhs in their cases and support their families with aid, the SGPC has so far spent Rs 1.37 crore. Similarly, an aid has been provided of Rs 2.85 crore to the families of farmers who lost their lives and got injured during year-long farmers’ protest, Rs 8.85 crore for Dharmi Faujis (those who left Army jobs in protest against 1984 military attack on Sri Darbar Sahib), Rs 31.91 crore for cancer patients, Rs 2.42 for Sikhs lodged in Jodhpur jail, Rs 1.15 crore for Jammu & Kashmir flood victims, and Rs 14.79 crore to needy under Dharam Arth (religious cause) Fund.
