Row over SGPC Move to Appoint Chief Secretary Deepens

Teja Singh Samundry hall; The head quarter of SGPC
Teja Singh Samundry hall; The head quarter of SGPC

AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Row over appointment of chief secretary by the SGPC is deepening with various Panthik bodies coming to the fore to challenge the move.

After Shiromani Akali Dal (1920) announced to move Supreme court against the move, Panthik Talmel Sangathan (PTS), umbrella organization of various Sikh groups, has termed the move as unethical. In addition, former SGPC member Savinder Singh Dobalia has written an open letter to SGPC president and its all executive committee members condemning the move. Earlier, he served legal notice to the body over the move.

The PTS convener and former Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh said that decision of appointing chief secretary is totally unfair as there is no provision in SGPC administrative rules for this position.  Alleging that the position was being opened to hire a pro-Akali person to the post, he said anyone aged 58 years and above could not be appointed in the body.  He said that furthermore, salary can only be fixed within present pay scale of the employees, he said.

“There is no provision of appointing chief secretary in Gurdwara Act 1925. Such post can only be created after amending the Act. It is the general house who has right to make amendment in the Act. In fact, the general house does not exist as the case is pending in Supreme court. Besides, all members of the executive committee who took the decision, did not agree upon the move,” he said.

He warned that his organization would not be a mute spectator in front of loot of financial resources of the body. He appealed the SGPC members to come to fore for saving “Guru Ki Golak” as the chief secretary will be paid Rs 3,00,000 monthly.

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