Head Granthi Giani Jagtar Singh will perform executive services at Takht Sahib
Amritsar, February 10 – As expected the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in its executive committee meeting today, accepted the report of the investigation panel formed in relation to Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh and dismissed him from religious service.
Giving information about the decision, SGPC secretary Partap Singh said that this decision has been taken unanimously on the report of the investigation panel. Only three members registered their dissenting note in this regard, while the remaining members of the SGPC executive committee who attended the meeting agreed to the dismissal of Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on the basis of the report. He said that the investigation has proven the allegations against Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and this action has been taken by the executive committee with regards to the honour and dignity of the Takht that has been hurt. Partap Singh said that the executive committee has for the time being assigned the services of the Jathedar to Giani Jagtar Singh, the Head Granthi of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, in place of Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.
It may be mentioned here that Gyani Harpreet Singh was facing allegations in an 18-year-old domestic dispute. Following the complaint, a three-member inquiry panel was formed by the SGPC. However, in this regard Akal Takht Jatehdar Gyani Raghbir Singh had earlier expressed strong annoyance with the SGPC president by saying that to hold inquiries against Jathedars was very much the domain of the Akal Takht exclusively. Notwithstanding, the SGPC panel conducted the inquiry and its members met many people at Takht Damdama Sahib to get their feedback on the issue.
The complainant was the Muktsar resident identified as Gurpreet Singh, who was married to the Jathedar’s sister-in-law who has legal separation with Gurpreet, lodged a complaint with the SGPC president against the Jathedar on December 16 last year.
Along with this, in the executive meeting, a decision was also made to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the family of Satnam Singh, who died of fall while performing service of Nishan Sahib’s attire at Gurdwara Sri Kandh Sahib in Batala. Apart from this, matters related to various Gurdwaras, educational institutions, trust department and other works related to the SGPC were discussed and simplified.
The SGPC executive meeting was attended by SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Senior Vice President Raghujit Singh Virk, Junior Vice President Baldev Singh Kalyan, General Secretary Sher Singh Mandwala, executive members Amrik Singh Vichhoa, Surjit Singh Tugalwal, Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Surjit Singh Garhi, Baldev Singh Qaimpur, Daljit Singh Bhinder, Sukhharpreet Singh Rode, Ravinder Singh Khalsa, Jaswant Singh Purain, Paramjit Singh Raipur, Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Manan, OSD Satbir Singh Dhami, Secretary Partap Singh, Sukhminder Singh, additional secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, personal secretary Shahbaz Singh, assistant secretary Gurnam Singh, Balwinder Singh Khairabad, Harbhajan Singh Vakta and legal advisor Advocate Amanbir Singh Siali.
