Management of gurdwaras

PART III of the Gurdwara Bill lays down a scheme of management for the places of worship declared or held by the tribunal to be gurdwaras or shrines. All questions connected with the management of these places will be dealt with by the central board of management, the separate committees of management constituted for every notified gurdwara or shrine and by the Judicial Commission which will be constituted from time to time. The general power of supervision vests in the board, which shall consist of 151 members, of whom 120 will be elected by constituencies mentioned in Schedule IV and five will be the head ministers of certain important shrines at Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Lahore. The committees of management of all other gurdwaras and shrines will consist of four elected members and one member nominated by the board who shall be a resident of the district concerned. Paid servants of gurdwaras and shrines will not be eligible for election. The Commission, which will consist of three Sikhs, will be entrusted with decisions on disputes arising out of the management of notified gurdwaras and shrines. The members of the commission will be appointed by the government. Section 70 lays down: “No person shall be appointed as a member of the Commission unless he is or, at the time of his resignation from government service, was a District Judge or a Subordinate Judge of the first class or of not less than 10 years’ standing; or is a Barrister of England or Scotland of not less than 10 years’ experience; or is an advocate, vakil or pleader of at least 10 years’ standing.”