Court Orders Land Back to Gurdwara Barambala; Sikh Manuscripts Restoration

On 15 Mar, in a bid to end a dispute between Sikhs and Hindus who both claim the land next to Gurdwara Barambala in Rambagh, Attapur, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency erected a fence around the 2.34 acres and declared it government property. The police also arrested the Gurdwara president Chetan Singh along with senior Gurdwara members Lal Singh and Harbans Singh. The Sikhs claim the land belongs to the Gurdwara Barambala gifted to it by the Nizam of Hyderabad when Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent his forces in 1832 for support. The apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has issued a sharp condemnation accusing the Indian National Congress-led Telangana administration of violating religious sentiments. SGPC said the site holds significant historical value for the Sikhs globally and the reported incursion has sparked fears of a broader pattern of state overreach. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has warned that the attempt to take possession of the Gurdwara's property is an assault on the community's heritage. On 17 Mar, Telangana High Court intervened, asking the police to return the land to the Gurdwara and instructing the administration to remove the boards declaring it government property. Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi unit president Manjit Singh GK has congratulated the Sikh community. Meanwhile, on 12 Mar, Indian Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat termed the damage caused to rare Sikh manuscripts and literature at the Sikh Reference Library in Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) during ‘Operation Bluestar’ in 1984 as 'unfortunate' and said the union government will explore possibilities to restore the damaged material using advanced digital technologies. Shekhawat was responding to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) by Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu. Concurrently, the Association of United College Teachers, Panjab and Chandigarh, has condemned a resolution passed by the SGPC over unfair implementation of the 7^th Pay Scale in colleges under its management. According to the resolution, effective 1 Feb 2026, aided teachers and principals would receive full benefits of the 7^th Pay Scale, while unaided teachers would get the same scale with zero Dearness Allowance, only 8% House Rent Allowance and no arrears (earlier coverage).