The Shiromani Committee is the only such religious body in the world, which is elected by votes by the followers of that religion to manage the shrines of a religion in a country. It is also the first democratic institution in India to give women the right to vote. An active movement started in the second decade of the twentieth century in the form of ‘Gurdwara reform movement’ to bring Gurdwaras under panthic management. The success of this movement was due to the release of Mahants from Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib Delhi and Gurdwara Baba Di Ber. On October 12, 1920, the Sikhs freed the possession of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar from the Mahants. On November 15, 1920, more than 10,000 living Sikhs gathered in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, where a representative committee was elected for the maintenance of Gurdwaras, which was named ‘Sromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee’.
In 1925, the British government made the ‘Sikh Gurdwara Act’ and gave regular legal recognition to the Shiromani Committee. The number of members of the Shiromani Committee is 191 as per the structure of the Sikh organization prescribed under the Act. Of these, 170 members are elected by Sikh voters, while the remaining 15 members are nominated by committee members. The Jathedars of the five Takhts and Sachkhand are the chief scribes of Sri Darbar Sahib ex-officio, who are referred to as ‘Head Minister’ in the language of the Act. 170 members win votes from 120 constituencies in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Out of the total constituencies, 50 constituencies are dual, from which two members are taken. Among them, 30 seats are reserved for Sikh women and 20 for scheduled caste Sikhs. 11 members from outside Punjab are elected by votes from Haryana and one each from Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. However, in the decision of a petition challenging the ‘Haryana Gurdwara (Management) Act-2014’ passed by the Haryana government in 2014, the Supreme Court on 20 September 2022 recognized the ‘Haryana Gurdwara (Management) Act-2014’. After that, the service-maintenance of Gurdwaras of Haryana went from the Shiromani Committee, but the existence of Shiromani Committee members of Haryana is still intact. Defining the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, it is said that its functions are to maintain the Gurdwaras, pursue the Sikh interests and create representative leadership of the Sikhs in the political sphere, but the Shiromani Gurdwara Committee is more responsible for the sectarian interests of the Sikhs. According to the policy program issued in 1979 for the sake of creation, five main objectives were set for it. First, to preserve the ancient sanctity of Sikhism and propagate it by expressing the basic principles, principles and ideals of Sikhism. Secondly, to ensure the political existence of the Sikh community within the framework of national unity. Third, to make Sikh institutions more representative and responsive to contemporary challenges. Fourth, to respond to the needs of Sikhs living outside Punjab in India and abroad. Fifth, to improve the administration of Gurdwaras.
