Judicial panel moved
Plea to disqualify Badal followers
From Gurdip Singh

AMRITSAR, Feb 1 — The three-member Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission admitted a petition filed by pro-Tohra SGPC member Mr Sarup Singh Dhesi praying that since 10 pro-Badal SGPC executive members have become "patit", they be disqualified both as members of the SGPC executive and the general body.

The application under Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 further prayed for immediate declaration that the respondents, namely Mr Hardilbir Singh Shah, Mr Kewal Singh Badal — Mr Balbir Singh Nausherapannua, Mr Raghujit Singh Vir, Mr Bhagwant Singh Hardothala, Mr Satnam Singh Bhairupa, Mr Suba Singh Dhabswali, Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Mr Gupal Singh Gora and Mr Joga Singh Phaguwala, all SGPC executive members, should cease to work against the interests of the Khalsa Panth and Sikh religion and sought mandatory injunction against the respondents to obey the "hukamnama" issued by the Akal Takht.

SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was mentioned in the petition as proforma respondent.

The commission which fixed February 4 for hearing of the petition, refused to the contention of the lawyer Mr Manpreet Singh Sood that the issue was urgent and should be heard tomorrow itself. The commission, headed by Mr Manmohan Singh Brar as chairman, said time was required as they had to serve notice to the respondents.

The petitioner had stated that of late there had been some acrimony between SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. This was taken notice of by the Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh and a 'hukamnama' issued that no acrimonious references be made nor action be taken by any responsible member of the Sikh community till April 15 in view of the celebrations of the tercentenary of creation of the Khalsa Panth.

But, in complete violation of the 'hukamnama', the respondents had made several public statements about wanting to oust Mr Tohra from the post of president and oblique references damaging to the reputation of the Akal Takht and, according to the press, even had designs to replace the Jathedar.

The petitioner added that the Jathedar of the Akal Takht worked to safeguard the tradition of Sikhism and the action of the respondents to lower his dignity amounted to denigration of Akal Takht and rendered the respondents "patits".

It further said that there were calculated efforts in Punjab to denigrate Sikh institutions especially Akal Takht and to appease minority-baiters like the sangh parivar now holding the reigns of the central government.

The petitioner filed a separate application for interim relief.

The commission also admitted another application filed by Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta praying that the commission set aside its order restraining his functioning as senior secretary of the SGPC. The application will be heard tomorrow along with that of the ten pro-Badal executive members who had sought his removal because of his alleged "back-door" entry contrary to the service rules of the SGPC.

Meanwhile the commission, on a petition filed by the SGPC, returned the agenda and procedural books which it took into custody on January 29 on the petition of the ten executive members. The SGPC prayed that these records be handed back to it since the petitioner, in a revised petition, had dropped the SGPC as party to it.

The commission is scheduled to hear the main application of the ten-member executive seeking directions to Mr G.S. Tohra to immediately convene a meeting of the SGPC executive committee so that important and pressing issues concerning the functioning of the SGPC can be discussed, today. They also sought the removal of Mr Tohra and four other executive members and their disqualification for a period of five years.

Bhai Ranjit Singh offers to appear before Takht
From Varinder Walia and Ashok Sethi

AMRITSAR, Feb 1 — Even as the 10 executive members owing allegiance to Mr Parkash Singh Badal sought the resignations of SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra for maintaining links with Nirankaris and Bhai Ranjit Singh of Akal Takht Jathedar the latter offered to appear before Akal Takht to clarify his position with the majority of members now demanding the resignations of Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh. The executive has set in motion the process of sacking them. Similarly Bhai Ranjit Singh offer to appear before the Akal Takht (headed by himself) is viewed as unprecedented in the annals of Sikhism.

Firing the first salvo against Bhai Ranjit Singh and Mr Tohra the ten SGPC members have categorically stated that they believe both are not fit for the posts they are occupying and should immediately step down.

The executive members charged Mr Tohra of having deep connections with the Nirankaris despite the hukamnama issued from Akal Takht in 1978 which directed Sikhs not to maintain relations with Nirankaris. They added that Bhai Ranjit Singh too was party to the misdemeanour as he had willfully ignored concrete evidence of the visit of Mr Tohra to Nirankari Bhawan in Patiala to solicit votes for his portege, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra for the Lok Sabha elections last year. And that by ignoring the traditions of Sikhism Mr Tohra and the Akal Takht Jathedar had 'misused' their respective posts for vested interests and treated these Sikh institutions as their 'personal properties'.

The Badal camp urged the Jathedars of the other four Takhts to take appropriate action against Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh for lowering the prestige of Akal Takht and the SGPC. They also said Mr Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh had created a confrontation in the Sikh clergy.

Badal loyalists also sought deferring of tomorrow's meeting called by Bhai Ranjit Singh at Akal Takht in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth.

The fight in the Sikh clergy representing the five Takhts has also reached a flashpoint with Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib and Bhai Hazura Singh, Jathedar of Shri Hazur Sahib, Nanded criticising Bhai Ranjit Singh for summoning Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib at Akal Takht on February 11.

Giani Kewal Singh also charged Bhai Ranjit Singh of tampering with evidence in the Tohra-Nirankari case. Bhai Hazura Singh even issued a parallel 'hukamnama' urging Bhai Ranjit Singh to immediately withdraw the edict issued by him summoning Prof Manjit Singh.

Bhai Ranjit Singh in turn said if anybody (including the Sikh clergy) had any complaint against him for violating any Sikh tradition he could file an application before Akal Takht for taking action against him. In case this was done, Bhai Ranjit Singh said "I shall not participate in the meeting to be held at Akal Takht pertaining to any complaint against me". He said the issue could be decided by the panj pyaras instead.

To a question Bhai Ranjit Singh said no Takht other than Akal Takht had the locus standi to issue a hukamnama to the Sikhs. Hence the hukamnama issued by Bhai Hazura Singh had no value. Ridiculing the hukamnama Bhai Ranjit Singh said Bhai Hazura Singh had even ex-communicated Mr Tohra once but this had no effect either on him or on the Sikh masses.

Bhai Ranjit Singh however, clarified that Prof Manjit Singh was summoned at Akal Takht to seek his clarification on his attending a seminar in the USA on January 15 which was attended by some ex-communicated Sikhs. He said if he was found guilty-action would be taken against him after April 15, as the Sikh clergy had postponed the tussle till the tercentenary celebrations.

Bhai Ranjit Singh did not rule out the possibility of summoning Mr Parkash Singh Badal to Akal Takht. To a question, he said such a decision could be taken unanimously by the five Sikh priests.

While admitting his participation in a meeting of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee where two ex-communicated Sikhs were also present Bhai Ranjit Singh said it was mandatory for him to attend the meeting in accordance with the DSGMC Act prior to removing them ) ex-communicated Sikhs) from their respective posts as a Jathedar of Akal Takht.

When asked about the move of the Badal camp to remove him as Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh said that they had been desperately making attempts to remove him from the day he was installed as Jathedar in December 1996.

Bhai Ranjit Singh rejected the demand of Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib and 10 executive members of Badal camp to cancel the meeting proposed to be held at Akal Takht tomorrow saying the meeting was to be attended by the representatives of Sikh bodies to discuss the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth. However, political leaders like Mr Tohra and Mr Badal could also attend the meeting tomorrow as humble Sikhs, if they wanted.

Bhai Ranjit Singh did not rule out the possibility of taking action against 131 SGPC members who had made an appeal to Akal Takht for reviewing the hukamnama. Bhai Ranjit Singh denied having received a representation of 10 SGPC executive members seeking withdrawal of his hukamnama.

Bhai Ranjit Singh alleged that the Akali had been misusing Akal Takht and other Sikh gurdwara for political ends. However, when the Panth was in crisis they rarely took a Panthic decision to safeguard Sikhism. He suggested that the Shiromani Akali Dal be converted to a non-religious Punjabi party and stop misusing the Sikh shrines.

He also has questioned the wisdom of Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib for raking up the Tohra-Nirankari episode eight-months afterwards especially at he was a signatory to the decision taken on June 25, 1998, absolving Mr Tohra.

Bhai Ranjit Singh asserted that he would not step down under threat. But clarified that he had no lust for power or position.

Answering questions about summoning the Managing Editor of Ajit Mr Barjinder Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh said he would be accorded proper respect and be allowed to present his case. He could also consider inviting the press to cover the proceedings.

By accusing Bhai Ranjit Singh of portraying himself as Akal Takht. The SGPC executive has transformed the battle from Badal versus Akal Takht to Bhai Ranjit Singh versus Akal Takht.