SGPC to scrap appointments made during Badungar’s term

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 8

Over 500 appointments made last year in the SGPC have come under scanner. The SGPC president, Gobind Singh Longowal, is all set to cancel these appointments made during his predecessor Kirpal Singh Badungar’s tenure.

The SGPC executive has endorsed the move during the meeting held at Fatehgarh Sahib yesterday. The probe panel constituted by Longowal has submitted its report to the executive and raised questions over the authenticity of at least 523 appointments.

It has learnt that most of the SGPC members and blue-eyed officials were obliged by giving their children and relatives jobs in various SGPC-run education institutes, gurdwaras and its main office.

The SGPC is going to follow the recommendation of the panel. Out of 700 appointments made prior to November 2017, the panel has concluded that 523 appointments were made defying the norms and principles of the Sikh Gurdwara Act-1921.

Confirming this, SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, who heads the probe panel, said the norms were flouted while making these appointments. “Out of 700 appointments, 523 were found to be objectionable till date, whereas the scrutiny of others is under progress. We will submit our next report in the second phase,” he said.

Longowal said, “As per the panel’s recommendation, these appointments will be made null and void,” he said.

About the replacement, Longowal said the new appointments would be made after the annual budget house meeting purely on merit basis.

“The fresh appointments on the same posts will be made through proper advertisement. The qualification and experience of candidates will be the sole criteria. The ones whose appointments will be cancelled, too, will be free to apply afresh to prove their merit,” he said.

Officials said at least 50 other employees might face demotion as they never fulfilled the laid-down criteria but were promoted for sharing close proximity with the former president of the apex body.

Badungar refused to comment on the controversy. “Till the executive body’s decision comes out clearly, it will be too early to comment on it. I may clarify my stance in the coming days,” he said.

On the other hand, SGPC officials said the process of scrapping the appointments during Badungar’s span has already started. As per information, all legal aspects are being taken into consideration by the present body before moving ahead.

Earlier, around 489 appointments were scrapped during the tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur on the recommendation of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.