SGPC Removes 'Takht Jathedars', Sikh Community Outraged

On 7 Mar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) interim executive committee dismissed Giani Raghbir Singh as Jathedar (Leader) of Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) and Giani Sultan Singh as Jathedar of Takht (throne) Kesgarh Sahib. The decision has drawn outrage among Sikhs in Panjab, Inspora, and Diaspora. Both the Jathedars had participated in the events at AT on 2 Dec 2024. AT had punished Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal who had already been declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) and asked him to resign from his post, and called for the reorganization of SAD. The SGPC, dominated by SAD loyalists, had earlier removed Giani Harpreet Singh as Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar, effectively ousting all three Jathedars who pronounced the edicts. Senior vice-president of SGPC Raghujit Singh Virk defended the ousters, citing inadequate leadership by Giani Raghbir Singh. Giani Harpreet Singh, labeled it a ‘black day’ for Sikh institutions, accusing the Badal family of dictatorial control and undermining AT’s sacred authority. Bikram Singh Majithia, a senior SAD leader, Badal’s brother-in-law, opposed the decision, saying it had ignored the will of the sangat (Sikh community). In a joint statement, he and other leaders said internal conflicts within SAD had damaged Panthic (Sikh Collective) unity and strengthened opposing forces. SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder said Majithia had backstabbed Badal. Haryana-based SAD leaders resigned in protest. In the past decades, the Badal-led SAD has repeatedly appointed Jathedars favorable to them and removed Jathedars who defied the party’s interests. Among those removed are Bhai Ranjit Singh in 1999, Giani Puran Singh in 2000, and Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti in 2008 and others. The SGPC has scheduled its annual budget session for 28 Mar. SGPC’s actions have once again shown that the Sikh community does not have an independent process to appoint their leaders and hence lacks credible leadership (earlier coverage).