:dateline:In an emergency meeting called at the Teja Singh Samundari Hall, the executive committee of SGPC today accepted the resignation of Giani Gurbachan Singh and appointed the serving Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh as an acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Notably, Giani Gurbachan Singh had resigned on October 18 citing his �deteriorating health� as a reason.
Sharing the development with media, the SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal informed that Giani Harpreet Singh has been appointed for the time being. He added that a formal function will be organized in the coming days to officially appoint Giani Harpreet Singh on the temporal Sikh post.
Interestingly, Longowal said that the appointment of permanent Akal Takht Jathedar will be made after the due deliberations with Sikh bodies.
45 years old Giani Harpreet Singh is pursuing PhD in religious studies at Punjabi University, Patiala. He was recruited as a preacher in SGPC in 1997 and was appointed as a Head Granthi of Gurdwara Sri Mukatsar Sahib in July, 1999. After 17 years of service as a head granthi of Sri Mukatsar Sahib, he was appointed as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib on April 21, 2017.
It is pertinent to note here that Giani Harpreet Singh had recently drawn flak by locally concluding the issue of terming Parkash Badal as a �Badshah � Darvesh� by Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder at Abohar rally on September 9.
