Giani Harpreet Singh Relieved of Duties as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib
In a significant development, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has officially relieved Giani Harpreet Singh of his duties as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, effective immediately. The decision was reached during an executive body meeting convened at SGPC headquarters in Amritsar.
Following this resolution, the head granthi of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Jagtar Singh, has been entrusted with the interim responsibilities of the position. SGPC Secretary Partap Singh confirmed that the dismissal stemmed from a formal complaint lodged against Giani Harpreet Singh. “For the time being, Giani Jagtar Singh, the head granthi, will assume the charge. The inquiry conducted by the SGPC panel substantiated the allegations against Giani Harpreet Singh, and the majority of the executive members endorsed his termination in an effort to uphold the sanctity of the Takht,” he stated.
The complaint, submitted by Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib, on December 16, accused Giani Harpreet Singh of misconduct. Subsequently, a special SGPC panel was constituted to investigate the matter. This committee comprised senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, general secretary Sher Singh Mandwala, and executive member Daljit Singh Bhinder. Initially, Giani Harpreet Singh’s services were suspended for a fortnight, with the suspension later extended to a month. Upon reviewing the panel’s findings, the SGPC executive committee ruled in favor of his termination.
However, dissent surfaced within the executive body, as three opposition members—Paramjit Singh Raipur, Jaswant Singh Purain, and Amrik Singh—staged a walkout in protest. They contended that the decision was driven by political motivations, alleging that the executive members affiliated with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) exerted undue influence over the proceedings.
Paramjit Singh Raipur further argued that the directives issued by the five high priests on December 2, in which Giani Harpreet Singh had participated, may have played a role in his removal. Additionally, opposition members raised concerns regarding procedural fairness, asserting that they had not been formally notified of the issue beforehand and were not provided with a written copy of the investigative report, which they deemed unilateral and biased.
This development has sparked considerable debate within the Sikh community, with discussions ongoing regarding the broader implications of this decision on religious and organizational affairs.
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