The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has removed Giani Harpreet Singh as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib following an inquiry into allegations of misconduct. The decision was taken by the SGPC’s executive body during a meeting chaired by its president, Harjinder Singh Dhami.
The head granthi of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Jagtar Singh, has been appointed as the interim Jathedar until further notice.
Investigation and Removal
The probe into allegations against Giani Harpreet Singh was conducted by a three-member committee comprising SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, general secretary Sher Singh Mandwala, and executive member Daljit Singh Bhinder as per reports.
Three opposition members — Paramjit Singh Raipur, Jaswant Singh Purain, and Amrik Singh — walked out of the meeting in protest, alleging that the decision was politically motivated. They claimed that the majority of executive members belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) influenced the decision.
“There are a lot of accusations in the report… Its possible that some of the accusations may be true. The peculiar thing is that if he was so despicable in the past, you let him speak on your behalf while he was singing your tunes but the moment he opposes you, you discarded him”, said Jaswant Singh after the meeting.
Allegations
The allegations surfaced after Sri Muktsar Sahib resident Gurpreet Singh filed a complaint against Giani Harpreet Singh on December 16. He alleged that he was married to the Jathedar’s sister-in-law and that Giani Harpreet Singh interfered in his married life, resulting in their separation. The inquiry panel found merit in the allegations, leading to his suspension for a fortnight, which was later extended for a month.
Background
Giani Harpreet Singh was appointed Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in April 2017 and had served as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht from October 22, 2018, to June 16, 2023. His tenure at Akal Takht was marked by controversy, including his resignation after facing criticism for attending the engagement ceremony of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha and Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra.
SGPC’s Silence on the Matter
Despite the significance of the decision, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami refrained from speaking to the media and left the meeting soon after the announcement. The committee is yet to outline any further course of action regarding the vacant Jathedar position at Takht Damdama Sahib.
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Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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