Post punishment, SGPC senior vice-prez Rajinder Singh Mehta puts in papers

Amritsar, September 18

As a fallout of lapses in administrative control that led to misappropriation of 328 ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib, two high-rank positions in the SGPC’s body have fallen vacant.

After Dr Roop Singh, who quit the office of the chief secretary on August 27, senior vice-president Rajinder Singh Mehta today put in his papers after Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh directed the SGPC executive of 2016 not to occupy any position in the apex body for a year.

Mehta was part of the SGPC executive in 2016 which was held guilty of not performing the ‘pashchatap path’ (remorse prayers) following a fire incident that occurred during the intervening night of May 18 and 19, 2016, on the third floor of Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib that houses the Publication Department where the ‘saroops’ are printed.

After submitting his resignation, Mehta said, “The five high priests held the 2016 executive body responsible for skipping the ‘pashchatap path’ and put a bar on holding any position for next year. I, being the member of the then executive, share the responsibility of facing religious punishment. I submit my resignation as it is my moral duty to do so.” — TNS