The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has extended the time for suggestions regarding the qualifications, appointment, responsibilities and retirement of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Now these suggestions can be sent till May 20. Giving information in this regard, Shiromani Committee Secretary Partap Singh said that suggestions were sought from Sikh organizations, sects, institutions, Singh Sabhas, Sabha societies and Sikh scholars till April 20 for making service rules regarding the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He said that the Shiromani Committee has certainly received many suggestions, but it has been decided to extend the time till May 20 for its further elaboration. He said that along with this, the process of reading the suggestions received earlier and preparing a rough draft will also be started, after which a committee will be formed and it will be given a final shape. He said that these suggestions should be sent to the Shiromani Committee as before in manual form or on the official email info@sgpc.net and WhatsApp number 77101-36200.
The question is that the Shiromani Committee is under the Government Gurdwara Act, the scope of which is limited to Punjab, can it represent or lead the world Panthic organization Akal Takht Sahib?
It is worth mentioning here that there is no specific statement in the 1925 Act of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee regarding the appointment of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. In principle, the Interim Committee or the General House of the Shiromani Committee does not have any legal authority to appoint the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. During the last 4 centuries, these appointments were made either through the resolutions of the Sarbat Khalsa or during the tenure of the Misls, the Jathedars of the Akal Takht were appointed unanimously by the Misls. During the twentieth century as well, these appointments have been made with the consent of the Sikh sects, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Nihang Singh organizations, Taksals and the Shiromani Committee activists. In the twenty-first century, the appointments and dismissals of Singh Sahibs have been a subject of great controversy. In fact, this controversy had started at the end of the last century when Giani Puran Singh was appointed as the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht in place of Bhai Ranjit Singh, even before the celebration of the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth. There came a time when the ruling Akali Dal split into two, and the other party appointed the Mutwazi Jathedars. In the last few years, the appointment and removal of Jathedars has become common, which has caused embarrassment all over the world. While revoking the controversial orders/edicts of Giani Puran Singh, the then Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti had directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to make rules for the appointment of Jathedars, determining their scope of work and removing them from office, which could not be implemented till date.
In the previous General House meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a resolution was passed to initiate measures to implement the edict of Jathedar Vedanti. According to the sentiments of the Sikh Panth, apart from the requisites of fighting, the educational qualification of the Jathedar should be at least graduation. Apart from this, the candidate should have at least 15-20 years of experience as a granthi/narrator in a Gurdwara. He should have studied Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth in depth. He should have complete knowledge of Sikh etiquette.
Panthic scholars believe that an ‘Akal Committee’ (electoral college) should be formed for the appointment of Singh Sahibs, which should have at least 55 members. This committee should definitely include three senior granthi sahibs of Sri Darbar Sahib. Apart from this, granthi sahibs of Sri Akal Takht, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib should also be included. It would be good if big historical granthi sahibs from Punjab and beyond are also included in the ‘Akal Committee’. At least seven members from Sikh sects, ministerial colleges, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Nihang Singh organizations, Taksals, Nirmala sects must be taken. Representatives of Gurdwaras established abroad should be given a place. The participation of Amritdhari Vice Chancellors of educational institutions, former Gursikh officers etc. will be beneficial in making the rules. Whenever the post of Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib is declared vacant, a meeting of the Akal Committee should be called by the Secretariat of Akal Takht Sahib at Sri Amritsar Sahib within one month. The person of Akal Takht Sahib selected by the Akal Committee should be appointed as the Jathedar of Akal Takht in the previously prescribed manner.
Sikh thinkers believe that the scope of work of Akal Takht Sahib includes all the global religious, political, social, economic and cultural activities of all Sikhs living in the world. This is not limited to a section of Sikhs of Punjab or Akalis. The scope of work of this supreme organization of Sikhs is wide and includes the responsibility of establishing Sikh identity among more than 800 crore people living in the world and spreading the ideology of Sikhism to different countries. Professor Sukhdayal Singh says that the appointment of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib should initially be for a period of five years and his post can be vacant only in special circumstances such as if he resigns from his services by giving a month’s notice or if someone suddenly passes away. Apart from this, after the Akal Committee conducts an inquiry into the impeachment charges against him, the Akal Committee can terminate his services with the unanimous consent of the Akal Committee. 5 year term or 5 year terms as per above
After two terms i.e. 10 years of service, the Jathedar of Akal Takht will be retired and he should be sent off with due respect after retirement.
Dr. Paramjit Singh Mansa says that the responsibility of establishing a suitable secretariat for the Jathedar of Akal Takht in Akal Takht Sahib, making proper arrangements for his residence, arranging the necessary vehicles for his travel and the overall security of him and his family should be jointly taken up by the Secretariat of Akal Takht Sahib and the Secretariat of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. After retirement, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib should be given a fixed amount of post-service honorarium (as pension) per month. If he passes away during this time, then at least 50% of the fixed amount should be paid to his wife or his family by the committee per month for the remaining period.
In view of the appeal of the Shiromani Committee, the chief servant of the Babbar Khalsa International organization, Bhai Wadhawa Singh Babbar, who has been living in Pakistan for a long time, sent his suggestion letter. Bhai Wadhawa Singh said that the chief servant (Jathedar) of Akal Takht Sahib should be a respected, universally accepted personality in the entire Khalsa Panth, honest, fearless, homely and of high character and should also have the ability to analyze complex issues and find solutions according to Gurmat. He said that the final authority to appoint the Jathedar should be with the duly convened ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ only.
Senior journalist Sukhdev Singh says that the tenure of the Shiromani Committee is over. It has no right to make such a law anyway. It is a temporary administrator. It should hesitate to take big decisions.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s independent member from Mohali and Panthic leader Bhai Hardeep Singh said that there is a need to define the Panch Pardhani procedure of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in the light of Gurmat and implement it. Bhai Hardeep Singh said that until the Sikhs of the entire world participate in fulfilling the Panch Pardhani concept and the committees subject to the law continue to appoint religious heads i.e. Jathedars of their own choice, the misuse of Sri Akal Takht Sahib cannot be stopped. He said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which embodies the Panch Pardhani concept, should not be under the purview of the law.
