CHANDIGARH, Punjab—After a delay of near about two years, the Union government of India has appointed Justice (Retired) Darshan Singh as Chief Gurdwara Election Commissioner. A notification in this concern was issued by the Indian government.
This information was disclosed by the Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain before a bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court during proceedings of a petition accusing the deliberate delay in SGPC elections by the Indian government.
It is pertinent to note here that as per the Sikh Gurdwara Election Rules-1959, only a Chief Commissioner holds authority to begin preparations for the SGPC elections.
Sharing the development with Sikh24, the petitioner’s lawyer Advocate Ish Puneet Singh informed that the High Court bench has deferred next hearing onto December 4. He added that the Court has directed the petitioner as well as the Union government of India to submit statements in written.
Advocate Ish Puneet Singh expressed hope that Justice (Retd.) Darshan Singh will begin work for the SGPC elections at the earliest. He added that a memorandum seeking elections of the SGPC at the earliest will also be handed over to the Gurdwara Judicial Commission in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Sikh24 has learnt that there are a lot of legal hindrances before the newly appointed Chief Gurdwara Election Commissioner to hold SGPC elections and it seems impossible for the Justice (Retd.) Darshan Singh to hold SGPC elections shortly because of the following two challenges:
- Justice (Retd.) Darshan Singh would have to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision about the legitimacy of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee as the SGPC member from Kurkshetra had moved a petition challenging the legitimacy of HSGPC constituted by the Haryana government.
- As the BJP led Union government of India had abolished the voting right of Sehajdharis in SGPC elections, so the Gurdwara Election Commission will have to prepare voter lists of Gursikh voters in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which is a long process.
