The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) has opposed the state government's proposed amendments to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act, 2014. During a General House meeting held at its Kurukshetra headquarters today, the HSGMC passed a resolution rejecting the proposed changes and expressed dissatisfaction over not being consulted before the amendments were approved by the Cabinet last week.

The amendments are likely to be tabled in the upcoming Haryana Assembly session. However, the HSGMC has made it clear that it does not accept the changes and has sought time to meet Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to raise its objections directly.

“This Act was enacted in 2014, and the Cabinet did not consult the 11-member executive body of the HSGMC, which is unacceptable. In the General House meeting, we decided to boycott the proposed amendments. The government should seek our approval before making any future amendments,” said Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of the HSGMC.

The committee, which has 49 members (40 elected and 9 co-opted), saw participation from 32 members at the meeting. The proposed amendments were discussed in detail, and all present opposed them.

Jhinda pointed out a key amendment to Section 17(2)(c) of the Act, which originally gave the HSGMC the power to remove its members through a two-thirds majority. “This authority is now being shifted to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission,” he said.

Jhinda also flagged another significant change: “Earlier, appeals against the Judicial Commission's orders could be filed first in district courts and then the high court. Now, the proposed amendment allows direct appeals only to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, bypassing lower courts altogether.”

The committee has announced that a Sikh Sammelan will be convened before August 22 — the date of the Assembly session — to gather feedback from the community. “The House passed a resolution to hold the Sammelan to seek suggestions from Sikh sangat before the session,” Jhinda said.

Some key members, including Prakash Singh Sahuwal, an Independent member from Nathusari Chopta and prominent leader of the Akal Panthak Morcha, and Didar Singh Nalvi, a former senior vice-president and current member from Shahabad, did not attend the meeting. However, they had earlier expressed disapproval of the proposed amendments.