Akal Takhat issues directions regarding respect for Gurbani

Amritsar— Taking a serious note of the instance in which Satkar Committee members stopped a publisher’s consignment alleging sacrilege, the Sikh clergy has issued guidelines to private publishers for sending religious books to other places.

Following a meeting at the Akal Takht Secretariat here, the Sikh high priests issued directions to the publishers to ensure that whenever they prepared a consignment, each packet should not weigh more than 20-25 kg. The literature should be first wrapped in paper and cloth before being put into a box made of wood or plastic.

Subsequently, these books should be transported in a properly covered vehicle so as to protect them from dust or rain. The publishers have also been told to put up stickers having written ‘Handle with respect’ on each of the packets. The Sikh clergy has warned of strict action against anyone violating the directions.

In another significant decision, the Sikh high priests have directed that Guru Granth Sahib should not be installed at houses that had ‘bars’. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said such individuals should hand over the ‘bir’ of Guru Granth Sahib to the nearest Gurdwara. He said such people can keep ‘Gutkas’ in their homes instead of installing the holy book.