Amritsar: Sikh thinker and BJP spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala has expressed serious concern over the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) running key positions — including the Chief Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Secretary of Gurdwara Section 85, and the Administrative Department — on an acting basis. He has raised a pointed question: Is this merely an administrative compulsion, or a deliberate strategy to keep positions unstable in order to maintain centralized control for political interests?He stated that the Shiromani Committee, born out of the countless sacrifices and struggles of the Sikh community, now stands under a serious question mark. On one hand, financial irregularities worth crores are surfacing; on the other, the SGPC President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, reportedly remarked that “in a large management system, 10–20 irregularities occur daily.” Such a statement reflects not just negligence but an institutional decline in mindset and a clear evasion of accountability.
At present, the management of Maryada (religious discipline) at Sri Darbar Sahib and the core administrative structure of the SGPC are functioning on a temporary framework.
The situation is clear — the Chief Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib is on an acting basis; the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib is on an acting basis; even responsibilities linked to the office of the Akal Takht are functioning under interim arrangements; the Secretary of Section 85 is acting; and the Administrative Department is under a Deputy Secretary.
Is this merely an administrative necessity, or a calculated move to keep offices unstable and maintain centralized control?
He pointed out that Sri Akal Takht Sahib has not had a permanent Jathedar for over a year. On June 16, 2023, the services of Giani Harpreet Singh were withdrawn. Subsequently, Giani Raghbir Singh, from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, was assigned responsibilities of Sri Akal Takht Sahib along with the role of Chief Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib.
Then, on March 7, 2025, the services of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh were withdrawn, and Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was appointed as Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and given additional acting responsibilities of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
At that time, it was claimed that a permanent Jathedar would soon be appointed. However, even after a year, no permanent appointment has been made. During the re-dastaarbandi ceremony of Giani Gargaj, Sikh organizations and sects appealed for the appointment of a permanent Jathedar at Akal Takht Sahib, but no action has been taken. Is it appropriate to keep the supreme seat of the Panth in uncertainty?
Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib is currently under what appears to be “oral management.” On February 26, 2026, Chief Granthi Giani Raghbir Singh was reportedly forced into retirement. In his absence, responsibilities are being assigned “verbally” to Additional Chief Granthi Giani Amarjeet Singh.
There is no written order and no transparent procedure.
Will the spiritual center of the Sikh community be governed through verbal instructions?
Following controversies related to the Gurudwara Amb Sahib land issue involving Secretary Partap Singh of Section 85 and the Administrative Department, responsibilities were handed over on an acting basis to Additional Secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal.
The crucial Administrative Department is presently under Shahbaz Singh, the Personal Secretary to the President (Deputy Secretary rank).
Does the SGPC not have competent, impartial, and capable officers?
Or is it to be assumed that the acting system exists to prevent office-bearers from taking independent decisions?
The repeated removal and reshuffling of office-bearers such as Giani Harpreet Singh, Giani Raghbir Singh, and Giani Sultan Singh indicate a pattern.
Has it become a new norm to remove anyone who does not align with the wishes of the Akali leadership or who does not function according to their expectations?
The question arises: if capable individuals are available, why are permanent appointments not being made? If they are not available, then this reflects a structural failure within the SGPC. Is there any concrete plan to address this? In either case, the credibility of the institution is at stake.
The Shiromani Committee was established through the sacrifices of Sikhs. It should not be pushed toward such instability that the entire system becomes merely “acting” in nature.
In the upcoming interim committee meeting on March 6, permanent appointments should be made for:
The Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib,
The Chief Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib,
The Secretary of Section 85, and
A competent officer for the Administrative Department.
Otherwise, the forthcoming Budget General Session will be recorded in history as a session where even the Chief Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib and the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib were present only in an acting capacity.
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