New Akal Takht jathedar rejects predecessor’s edicts

AMRITSAR, MARCH 29: In a move unprecedented in Sikh history, the newly appointed Jathedar of the Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti o...

AMRITSAR, MARCH 29: In a move unprecedented in Sikh history, the newly appointed Jathedar of the Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti on Wednesday rejected the three `hukamnamas’ ( edicts) issued by his dismissed predecessor Puran Singh and `acquitted’ all those who were ex-communicated from the Sikh Panth.

Besides SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, others acquitted were Jathedars of Takht Keshgarh Sahib Manjit Singh and of Damdama Sahib Kewal Singh and Akal Takht head Granthi Bhagwan Singh. SGPC executive members Satnam Singh, Raghujit Singh Gora and Pritam Singh Bhatia and member Jaswinder Singh were readmitted to the Sikh fold.

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This decision was taken after a meeting of the `panj pyaras’ held at the Akal Takht office inside the Golden Temple complex here. The meeting was presided over by Giani Joginder Singh and attended by head granthi of Harmandir Sahib Giani Mohan Singh, granthis of Harmandir Sahib Giani Charan Singh and Giani Gurbachan Singh and a granthi of the Akal Takht Giani Ravel Singh.

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The “three hukamnamas issued by Giani Puran Singh from January 25 to March 28 were violative of the high traditions of the Akal Takht and the entire Sikh community had to suffer for this act of Giani Puran Singh,” the directive read out by Giani Joginder Singh said.

The directive which bore the signatures of all the five priests who took part in today’s meeting accused Giani Puran Singh of having acted in a manner which was unbecoming of an Akal Takht Jathedar, and allowing his own selfish motives to override panthic principles. “Hence the three `hukamnamas’ issued by Giani Puran Singh are declared invalid,” the directive added.

The `hukamnamas’ mentioned in today’s directive was the one issued by Giani Puran Singh from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) on January 25 through which he excommunicated Bibi Jagir for challenging his judgement on the `nanakshahi’ calendar issue.

The other edict pertained to the excommunication of Mankit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh, Giani Bhagwan Singh, Bhatia and Jaswinder Singh issued on March 12 and the third one issued on Tuesday by Giani Puran Singh. Just before his sacking, he had ex-communicated executive members Gurpal Singh Gora, Satnam Singh and Rahgujit Singh Virk for participating in the executive meeting.

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Giani Joginder Singh announced the exoneration and re-admittance of all the ex-communicated `panthic’ leaders including Bibi Jagir Kaur back into the Sikh fold. The acting jathedar also directed the SGPC to frame a set of rules and draw parameters within which `hukamnamas’ should be issued and their sanctity maintained.

The acting jathedar also directed the SGPC to form a committee of religious experts to deliberate on the minimum qualifications needed for the appointment of heads of the Takhts and head granthis and granthis. A direction was also issued asking the SGPC to review the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 and suggest the relevant changes in this act.