Giani Joginder Singh is acting jathedar

AMRITSAR, MARCH 29: Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, a `granthi’ at the Harmandir Sahib, was on Wednesday formally installed as acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs.

At a simple and brief religious ceremony, the 64-year-old Giani Joginder Singh took charge of the Akal Takht. Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur, who was excommunicated from the Sikh `panth’ by the deposed Jathedar Giani Puran Singh was absent at the installation ceremony held inside the golden temple complex here.

The soft-spoken and mild mannered Giani Joginder Singh was appointed acting jathedar on Tuesday after the SGPC executive removed Giani Puran Singh as jathedar on charges of having lowered the dignity of the Takht.