Probe panel indicts SGPC officials, Akal Takht seeks action

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Amritsar, August 24

The Akal Takht-appointed probe panel has revealed that records of not 267, but 328 ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib were misappropriated. This was disclosed by the five High Priests during a meeting, held today under leadership of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.

• Also read: Takht rejects Langah’s plea for clemency

With the panel’s report pointing towards gross discrepancies in the publication records of ‘saroops’ since 2015, the High Priests today held the SGPC officials and employees concerned accountable for the lapse and directed the committee to call up an executive body meeting and initiate stern action against the erring officials within a week.

Giani Harpreet Singh said the SGPC’s investigation spoke about 267 missing ‘saroops’ from its records between September 18, 2015, and May 31, 2020. However, the Takht panel found misappropriation of additional 61 ‘saroops’ after scrutinising the ledgers of 2013-2014 and 2014-15. Besides, it was feared that at least 125 ‘saroops’ were compiled in an unauthorised manner, out of extra printed ‘angs’ (pages) that were otherwise supposed to be discarded. These ‘saroops’ were issued to devotees without any receipt. This practice was going on since August 18, 2015, and never came to the fore as no audit was conducted by the SGPC publication department since 2016.

Unauthorised printing of Guru Granth Sahib in Canada

Meanwhile, Canada-based Ripudaman Singh Malik and Balwant Singh Pandher were accused of violating the Akal Takht’s edict, issued on May 9, 1998, by printing nearly 12 copies of Guru Granth Sahib without seeking any permission. Reports had surfaced that they had set up a printing press in British Columbia and printed the copies to test their venture. Both were directed to submit an explanation within a month with the Akal Takht Secretariat. Besides, Surrey-based Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society was directed to take into its possession the copies of Guru Granth Sahib and the printing infrastructure. The society was also directed to get the print of the ‘saroop’ examined from experts to find printing ‘error’ in verses of the holy scripture, if any, and submit the report within six months.

SGPC’s 2016 executive body, chief secy summoned

The Akal Takht has summoned the 2016 executive committee of the SGPC and its then Chief Secretary Harcharan Singh on September 18 for skipping the ‘pashchatap paths’ (prayers of remorse) after ‘saroops’ got damaged during an accidental fire in the publication branch at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in May 2016

Ban on Dhadrianwale’s events

Considering a report, which testified the alleged distortion of Sikh history by preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale in his discourses, the five High Priests have put a blanket ban on his programmes, till he tenders an apology at the Akal Takht