India SGPC Elections Cancelled By Punjab And Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

[Archived_Member16]

September 1, 2011

SGPC elections cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court, notification withdrawn

Punjab Newsline Network

Thursday, 01 September 2011

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday ordered the Gurdwara Election Commission to withdraw the notification for general elections of SGPC to be held on September 18. Subsequently the government of India withdrawn the notification.

The court decision came on the petition filed by Sehajdhari Sikh Federation which challenged the election process on the ground that Sehajdhari voters shall be allowed to cast votes. The High Court has ordered to enroll the eligible Sehajdhari Sikhs as voters. More details are awaited.

source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/conte...nd-haryana-court-notification-withdrwan/33128

 

[spnadmin]

Re: SGPC elections cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court, notification withdrawn

Amazing but it happened.

 

[Archived_Member16]

Re: SGPC elections cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court, notification withdrawn

UPDATE:

SGPC elections postponed following Center allowing voting rights to Sehajdhari Sikhs
Punjab Newsline Network
Thursday, 01 September 2011

CHANDIGARH: The SGPC elections in to be held on September 18 has been postponed following the center government on Thursday in reply to a writ petition informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it has withdrawn the 2003 notification barring Sehajdhari and non-baptised )Patit) Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections.

The Centre told the bench, comprising justices M M Kumar, Alok Singh and Gurdev Singh, that the October 8, 2003, notification was issued "without application of mind" and that its withdrawal now enables Sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in the September 18 polls.

The government's reply came on a seven-year old plea filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation challenging the notification.

With today's development, the voters' list for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee general house elections will be re-drafted, if Gurdwara Elections Commission allows the non-baptised Sikhs to participate in the polls. The process could delay the elections.

The GEC secretary, Avtar Singh Narula, said the commission will react to the development after it receives a a copy of the reply.

Appearing for Union of India, advocate Harbhagwan Singh told the notification was issued "without any application of mind only on the basis of the resolution passed by the SGPC on March 3, 2002."

Taking note of the assertions, the court said: "In view of the statement by senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh, the reference made to the full Bench is rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such."

The petition was filed by the president of Sehajdhari Sikh Federation, Paramjeet Singh Ranu, who welcomed the notification's withdrawal and appealed to the SGPC to treat them at par with other Sikhs and allow them to participate in the polls.

However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told reporters at Ludhiana that he condemns the withdrawal of the notification issued by the NDA government as the Sehajdhari Sikhs did not conform to the definition of true Sikhs.

Makkar said the UPA government's action was a "direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs by the Congress, which could not be tolerated."

source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/conte...allowing-voting-rights-sehajdhari-sikhs/33129

*************************************************************
SAD lashes out at center govt for anti Sikh stance on SGPC elections
Punjab Newsline Network
Thursday, 01 September 2011

CHANDIGARH: The SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief MInister Sukhbir Singh Badal today lashed out at the Congress and the UPA for "shocking attempt to avert an unprecedented rout of the anti-Panth and Congress- engineered so-called Panthic Morcha through withdrawal of the notification on the definition of the eligibility of the Sikh voters for the forthcoming SGPC poll. The SAD is heading for a clean sweep on all 170 odd seats in the forthcoming poll, and the center's move comes in the wake of its utter frustration over its inability to take illegal and illegitimate control of Sikh religious affairs through its front-men and paid-agents."

In a strongly worded statement here, Sukhbir Singh said, "The Congress has set itself up against the Khalsa Panth once again. It is clear that, like the French Royals, the Congress leaders at the center have learnt no lessons from history. " He said that he was shocked at the insensitivity of the central leaders and of the Congress High Command to the Sikh sentiments and at their continued conspiracies to weaken, destroy or capture through the back door the supreme representative Sikh religious organization, the SGPC."

Describing the Congress-ruled Center's move as " dangerous", Mr. Sukhbir Singh said, "Sensing a historic defeat of its cronies at the forthcoming poll to the supreme elected Sikh religious body, the Congress rulers in Delhi and Punjab have made one more attempt to thwart Sikh religious aspirations. But the SAD won't allow the Congress conspiracies against the Sikhs and their religious issues to succeed."

"The Congress has reconfirmed its role as an enemy of the Khalsa Panth. We will fight it politically, legally and every other legitimate democratic way."

But the SAD president added, "The writing is on the wall. It was and is Congress versus the Khalsa Panth in the SGPC poll. And Panth is poised for a historic triumph. That’s what the Congress finds so unacceptable. Hence this move. The decision is the last ditch effort of the Congress to avert an imminent and total humiliation of its cronies in the so-called Panthic Morcha in the forthcoming poll. "

Reacting to the withdrawal of the central notification on the definition of eligibility of the Sikh voters for poll to the religious body, Mr. Badal said that apart from a brazen interference in the internal religious affairs of the Sikhs, the move is also a subvert all democratic norms. The Congress has learnt nothing from the humiliation it faced in trying to sabortage the Anna Hazare agiation. It tried to throttle that through force until it became clear that people won't allow the central government to function if it did not desist from its evil designs. It tried the same with Swami Ramdev. And now, it believes that it can succeed in sabotaging legitimate Sikh religious aspirations through its latest move. It is indeed living in a fool's paradise. But it is playing games with national interests," said Mr. Badal.

source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/conte...er-govt-anti-sikh-stance-sgpc-elections/33130

 

[kds1980]

Re: SGPC elections cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court, notification withdrawn

AISSF to move SC

The All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has decided to move a petition in the Supreme Court against the decision of the Union Government to withdraw the notification issued on October 20, 2003, denying Sehajdhari Sikhs the right to vote in the SGPC elections.

Demanding that the ongoing election process should continue as notified by the government, AISSF president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad said: “The Congress-led Union Government is directly interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikh community, which was evident from the withdrawal of this notification.” the Grapevine

SAD patron and CM Parkash Singh Badal prevailed upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get the SGPC elections conducted prior to the assembly elections in Punjab. But with the Congress leadership in the state viewing the poll as SAD’s “dress rehearsal” prior to the assembly elections, it suggested that it be postponed. The only way this was possible was to withdraw the 2003 notification. Out of the 170 SGPC members, the SAD did not give the party ticket to 90 members. These 90 members see the withdrawal of notification as a boon and are now considering forming a group to take on the SAD which had denied them the ticket.

gurdwara act

n The Sikh Gurdwara Act was passed in 1925
n The SGPC elections were first held in 1926
n Then in 1930,1936,1939, 1942 (till 1942 the term SGPC house had 3- year term), 1944 (the term increased to 5 years), 1955, 1960, 1965, 1979, 1996 and 2004

lone exception

In the history of the SGPC elections, it was only in 1939 that Bhai Khushi Ram, a Sehajdhari, was elected from Multan (now in Pakistan)

Till 1966, the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, was a state Act, but after the reorganisation of states into Punjab, Haryana, HP and Chandigarh, the Act became a Central Act.

The withdrawal of the notification debarring Sehajdhari Sikhs from the SGPC elections has stunned the Sikhs. This is a second blow to the community after the Centre dropped the proposal for a separate Sikh Marriage Act a few days back. Perneet Singh in Amritsar talked to some Sikh leaders on the issue:

This is a political conspiracy. The Congress foresaw the defeat of the groups in the SGPC elections backed by it. Hence, the withdrawal of the 2003 notification

— AS Makkar, SGPC chief

It is a case of misuse of power by the Centre. It is an illegal move aimed at derailing the SGPC poll process. The Centre should have let the court decide if the notification was right or wrong

— SAD secy DS Cheema

We will ensure that next time the voters’ lists are prepared for the SGPC polls, the DSGMC model is followed and voters are issued photo identity cards

— DSGMC chief PS Sarna

The writ petition of Sehajdharis was pending for the past four years. If they had to withdraw the notification,why did they declare the elections?

— Noted lawyer HS Phoolka

It is another double blow to the Sikhs after the decision to drop the move on Sikh Marriage Act. Neither the court nor the government has the right to decide the definition of a Sikh

— SGPC former secretary MS Calcutta

Giving voting rights to Sehajdhari Sikhs may bring the Sikhs into a direct confrontation with the Centre. Sikhs will not allow non-Sikhs to administer their shrines

— Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110902/punjab.htm

 

[aristotle]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

All this is a lot of rumour-work. No notification has been withdrawn by the Central Govt. All this mess is just due to a misstatement by one lawyer on the Sehajdhari side. SGPC elections are due as always to be held on Sept 18, 2011 under directions by the Supreme Court.

 

[Archived_Member16]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

SGPC poll may be put off, Sehajdharis can now vote
Centre withdraws 2003 notification, claims it was issued without application of mind

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 1

In a surprising turn of events, the Centre today withdrew the October 2003 notification debarring Sehajdhari Sikhs from exercising franchise in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections. The Centre claimed the notification had been issued “without application of mind”. The strategic withdrawal came just 17 days prior to the SGPC elections. As a result, the right of the Sehajdhari Sikhs to vote stands restored and they may find themselves taking part in the forthcoming SGPC poll.

As the notification for holding the elections has already been issued, a final decision on the inclusion of the Sehajdhari Sikhs will be taken by the Gurdwara Election Commission.

The development is significant as the elections may be postponed if the commission decides to amend the electoral rolls to include the names of Sehajdhari Sikhs.

The announcement this afternoon took everyone by a surprise. As the hearing on a bunch of petitions challenging the non-inclusion of Sehajdhari Sikhs in the voting process was on, senior advocate-cum-Punjab’s former Advocate-General Harbhagwan Singh stood up.

Representing the Union of India, Harbhagwan Singh informed the Full Bench of Justice MM Kumar, Justice Alok Singh and Justice Gurdev Singh that the notification dated October 8, 2003, stood withdrawn.

He said the notification was issued “without any application of mind, only on the basis of a resolution passed by the SGPC on March 3, 2002”.

He informed the Bench that the Union of India also wished to withdraw the written statements, which had taken a contrary stand”.

The Bench asserted in the open court: “In the view of the statement by senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh, the reference made to the Full Bench is rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such.”

The notification was issued during the NDA regime under Prime Minister AB Vajpayee a year before the 2004 General Elections. A few months back, an application was filed before the High Court by the national president of Sehajdhari Sikh Federation Dr Paramjeet Singh Ranu, seeking a stay on the SGPC elections, slated to be held on September 18. He asserted a writ petition was earlier filed, challenging the 2003 notification “vide which the voting rights of the Sehajdhari Sikhs have been taken away in a totally illegal and arbitrary manner”.

Without waiting for the High Court decision, a proposal was submitted to the State of Punjab for holding election to the SGPC General House.

His counsel added the election process was made subject to the outcome of the writ petition vide an earlier order dated May 31, 2004. “While the writ petition is still pending before this court, the elected body has already enjoyed a term of seven years against the statutory period of five years and now again the respondents are going ahead with the election process…If the respondents are allowed to go ahead with the elections without waiting for the decision on this very important issue where lakhs of Sehajdhari Sikhs voters have been disfranchised, the respondents could be again electing a body against the provision of law. “Such a body can hardly be referred to as a true representative of the Sikhs masses. In the facts and circumstances, it is a fit case where the respondents are required to be restrained from holding elections,” he added.

Ball in his court
Any decision on the elections can only be taken after we get a copy of the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. We are bound by any direction of the court, but before I can make any comment, I need to know what the order is — Justice HS Brar (retd) Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Election Commissioner

* The strategic withdrawal comes just 17 days prior to the SGPC elections
* The notification was issued a year before the General Election during the NDA regime
* Announcement made during the hearing on a bunch of petitions challenging the notification

Who is a Sehajdhari

* A clean-shaven person who believes in Sikhism and its religious rituals

* Does not use tobacco in any form

* Does not eat halal meat

* Knows the Mool Mantar (Ek Onkar, Satnam…)

* Does not consume alcohol

* Does not follow any other religion


Who is a Keshdhari

* A person who does not cut hair
* Believes in all tenets of Sikhism

* Follows all rituals of the Sikh religion

* And follows all principals followed by Sehajdharis

source:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110902/main1.htm

 

[aristotle]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

Today evening, 2 prominent Punjabi news channels have been telecasting 'Breaking News' that SGPC polls will take place on the pre-determined date and Centre hasn't withdrawn any notifications. Cabinet Minister P.Chidambaram too has issued a statement in this regard.

 

[Archived_Member16]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

Confusion over SGPC poll schedule; Sikh leaders slam Centre's move
TNN | Sep 2, 2011, 06.32AM IST

CHANDIGARH: Following withdrawal of the notification by Union government, which had taken away voting rights of the Sehajdhari Sikhs for SGPC elections, confusion prevails over the fate of SGPC elections scheduled for September 18.

Friday, September 2 is the last date for making votes for the gurdwara polls, but with this notification, the Sehajdhari Sikhs are now demanding that their right to vote for the coming elections be restored. If this section is to be accommodated then it would mean postponement of election process, however, in a rare show of unity, most of the Sikh factions contesting the SGPC polls are strictly against allowing Sehajdharis to vote.

The Central Gurdwara Election Commission, hectically busy in the procedures of SGPC elections, has been caught in a quandary following the central government's withdrawal of its notification.

Amidst speculations that the SGPC polls will have to be rescheduled or delayed to include Sehajdhari Sikh voters, Justice (retd) H S Brar, chief election commissioner, Gurdwara Election Commission said future course of action will be decided only after getting a copy of the Punjab and Haryana high court order.

"We are guided by the ministry of home affairs in our working. We will await directions or take a call only after getting anything tangible from the government. So far, we have no information on the HC order," H S Brar told TOI.

The total number of voters enrolled for the last SGPC elections five years ago was 50,54,617 voters, which has now risen to 56,03,193, of which 52,36,475 voters are from Punjab alone.

The withdrawal of notification, meanwhile, has drawn sharp reactions from various political parties.

SAD secretary general and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa condemned the move, saying, "the Congress has again interfered in internal matters of Sikhs by withdrawing the notification issued unanimously in 2003 even after obtaining the consent of Congress leaders".

Dhindsa said the notification was issued after a joint meeting held under the chairmanship of then deputy prime minister L K Advani and attended by him (Dhindsa) as representative of Sikhs, the Union law minister, then Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, and representatives of Haryana, Himachal governments had unanimously debarred Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting for SGPC.

The development also drew sharp reaction from shiromani panthic council chairman and former general secretary of SGPC, Manjit Singh Calcutta, who called it a "deep rooted controversy". "Union government's two recent decisions - saying no to Anand Marriage Act and now withdrawing of the notification debarring Sehajdhari voters - are manifestations of conspiracies to harm the separate Sikh identity," said Calcutta. "Now this is the major challenge for the entire community and it has dwarfed the issue of our fight against Badal," Calcutta said. However, he held that Badal would never take up any Sikh cause in the right earnest apart from lip service.

Describing the development as "dangerous" for the community, the Dal Khalsa strongly advocated that no voting right should be given to any non-Sikh. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh warned that giving voting right to Sehajdharis could snowball into a direct confrontation between the Centre and the Sikhs.

"If Hindus and Muslims did not allow any outsider to interfere in their religious matters, why should Sikhs allow non-Sikhs to penetrate into their shrines," he said.

D S Cheema, secretary Shiromani Akali Dal told TOI, "This is complete misuse of position. The withdrawal of notification is a deliberate attempt by the central government to derail the election procedure which is in final phase. This is a criminal act by the Centre and goes to highlight insidious designs of the central government in putting a spanner in the SGPC poll procedure."

President of Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Badal, termed it as, "a brazen interference in the internal religious affairs of the Sikhs, the move also subverts all democratic norms".

Shiromani Akali Dal, which was preparing to contest from all the seats, went into a huddle on Thursday evening soon after it became known that the notification had been withdrawn. Leaders emerged from a meeting of the core committee at Ludhiana late in the night to deliberate upon the rapidly changing election situation.

(with inputs from Amritsar, Jalandhar, Sangrur)

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ers-slam-Centres-move/articleshow/9830742.cms

 

[aristotle]

No changes in SGPC election norms, government clarifies



New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) The central government Friday clarified that no changes had been made in the norms of elections to the Sikh religious body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and said the exercise would be held according to schedule on Sep 18.

The clarification came a day after a central government counsel told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a 2003 notification preventing Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections had been withdrawn. The court was hearing pleas seeking voting rights to Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs in the SGPC elections.

The clarification was given by the government in both houses of parliament Friday morning after the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised the issue.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said: ‘The government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to rescind or withdraw the notification dated Oct 8, 2003. The government will bring the above facts to the notice of the high court today (Friday).?

?Elections to the SGPC will be held as per schedule. Government will also bring the above facts to the notice of the high court today,? he said.

An identical statement was read in the Rajya Sabha by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on behalf of the home minister who said no one had briefed the advocate Harbhagwan Singh.

?In particular, he had no authority to make the statement that the notification would be withdrawn.?

In the upper house, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the counsel’s statement had created tension in Punjab.

?In the last 24 hours, huge tension has been created. Impression is that government is interfering in a religious institution… is the government planning to proceed and take action,? Jaitley asked.

Replying to this, Chidambaram said that he would ask the senior counsel why he made such statement.

?I will call the senior counsel and ask him under what circumstances he made the statement. At this stage, I submit we need not attribute any motive to any one. Let us find out what has happened,? Chidambaram said.

?We are facilitating holding of election of the SGPC and I have been in constant touch with the government of Punjab. The schedule was laid down in consultation with the Election Commission.?

?This election will take place according to schedule, no one needs to have any apprehension on that,? he added.

On Thursday, the SGPC and other Sikh bodies had alleged a ‘conspiracy’ against the community and slammed the government’s ‘attempt to interfere’ in their affairs.

The SGPC, an elected religious body of Sikhs for control and management of the gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, has an annual budget of Rs.400 crore.

The notification barring non-baptised Sikhs from voting was passed Oct 8, 2003 during the National Democratic Alliance regime following a resolution adopted by the SGPC on March 30, 2002.

The matter had come before the full bench of the high court on the basis of an application from Sehajdari Sikh Federation president Dr. Paramjeet Singh Ranu seeking a stay on the SGPC elections, slated for Sep 18.

Around 60 lakh Sikh voters have registered for the SGPC polls.


http://www.inewsone.com/2011/09/02/no-changes-in-sgpc-election-norms-government-clarifies/73000

 

[aristotle]

SGPC elections: 2003 notification not withdrawn, says Chidambaram
New Delhi | September 02, 2011 12: 01: 13 AM IST

Union Home Minister P. Chidamabaram on Friday said the government has not withdrawn a 2003 notification preventing Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs from participating in elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).In a statement in Parliament over the court cases relating to elections to the SGPC, Chidambaram said: "Yesterday evening, Ministry of Home Affairs received a report that Harbhagwan Singh, Senior Advocate, appeared in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the cases relating to the elections to the SGPC. He appears to have made the claim that he was representing the Government of India and he stated that the notification dated October 8, 2003 was being withdrawn by the Government of India. On his statement, the High Court is reported to have passed certain orders.

"On a suggestion that a suitable senior counsel may be engaged to appear in the matter, Ministry of Law and Justice had written a letter dated November1, 2011 approving the engagement of Harbhagwan Singh in two of the three cases before the High Court," he said.
"A copy of the order has not yet been received in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Neither the Ministry of Law nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had given a vakalatnama to Harbhagwan Singh. No one from the Government had briefed him. In particular, he had no authority to make the statement that the notification dated October 8, 2003 would be withdrawn," he added.

He further said the Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to rescind or withdraw the notification dated October 8, 2003."

"Government will bring the above facts to the notice of the High Court today," he added. (ANI)


http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20110902/1824320.html

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

Dears..THIS is a LEGAL WAY to ALLOW ALL those GHONA MONA BHAIYAHS.mulsim voters that Badal/RSS/BJP/Congress/Hindutva Lobby has made in their THOUSANDS to VOTE and BRING about a LANDSLIDE for BADAL DAL !! Now any Ghona Mona picture voter CAN VOTE and nO ONE Can do anything about it...I am surprised sikhs are arguing and cnat see the WALL and whats written on it staring them in the Face...The "sehajdharee" VOTERS are already READY TO VOTE !!! and NOW they CAN VOTE fearlessly..and Bring down the SGPC as it was intended all along !!!
SIKHS Better wake up....all these Peer mohammeds and Karnail aissffs etc are just MOSQUITO OUTFITS of 4 to 5 people and wholly BADAL PITHOOS through and through...the REAL AISSF DIED with Amreek Singh..these are all CHAMCHAGIRI OUTFITS put up by badal to hoodwink the Sikhs...they dont have more than 5 members...:swordfight-kudiyan:

 

[OSingh]

re: SGPC Elections Cancelled by Punjab and Haryana Court? Confusion Reigns

Indeed soorma bhai Amrik singh ji was great leader of AISSF, we had Sant Jarnail Singh ji at the forefront, Sukhdev Singh Babbar ji, Baba Manochahal Singh ji..............the list goes on.

Singh's that said what they meant. They gave their lives for the cause.

Our only choice is Badal or Sarna, these are dark times for the panth.

Any genuine Sikh will either vote for Simranjit Singh Maan or Daljit Singh Bittu, they are the only options left or do not vote at all.

Option to vote in my opinion should only be given to Amrtidhari (baptized) Sikhs and maybe Sehajdhari Sikh's as well(those that are Genuinely on the path to amrit, have started to keep kesh, abstain from intoxicants, do paath etc.)

Anyway, who are Congress to tell Sikh when we can hold our elections for SGPC!

How can so many 'Sikh Leaders' side with Sarna! What is Sarna and Captain going to do about this.........Nothing! Congress and Captain recently held an even commemorating Rajiv Gandhi, no Sikh should vote for Captain or Sarna.

May Guru Sahib bless the panth with soorme like bhai Fauja Singh, bhai Jarnail Singh........

We are desperately in need of a miri, piri, sant, sipahi leader, one that will make a stand against Badal and Sarna.

Some leaders who are genuinely panthic at the moment, bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal and bhai Amrik Singh.

Satguru Mehar Karan

 

[spnadmin]

The reason for the confusion is this. The Home Minister has struck the usual administrative note.

He further said the Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to rescind or withdraw the notification dated October 8, 2003."

What I am reading here is that courts have ruled. The Center "has not received" the paperwork, and so the executive branch has not executed the judicial order. A legalism is being reported.

This keeps of course everyone hanging from a spider's web. Happens everywhere. Keeps the story inching along. Nonetheless the Center will take as much time as needed to find the best course of action for the government, i.e., the Center. Suspense breeds both anger and rumor.

Title has been changed to reflect the confusion.

 

[spnadmin]

More confusion!

If SGPC polls are postponed, SAD will move SC

BARNALA: SAD will approach the apex court if SGPC elections are postponed in the wake of Union government's decision to withdraw its 2003 notification barring Sehajdhari Sikhs from casting votes.

Condemning the Union government for withdrawing the notification, SAD secretary general and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said on Thursday, "If elections are postponed the SAD will approach the apex court against it."

Dhindsa said the notification was issued after a joint meeting held under the chairmanship of then deputy prime minister LK Advani and attended by him, Amarinder Singh, representatives of Haryana and Himachal governments.

All were unanimous in debarring Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting rights.

Dhindsa said now seeing the ruling SAD is on verge of sweeping the elections, the Union government has withdrawn the notification to stop SAD from retaining power in SGPC.

Dhindsa said SAD was suspecting the Union government playing mischief against Sikhs and elections should not be postponed and should be held as per schedule.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...oned-SAD-will-move-SC/articleshow/9830728.cms

 

[spnadmin]

Forwarded by forum member Soul_jyot ji


Punjab Newsline Network

Saturday, 03 September 2011

LUDHIANA: Not ruling out the role of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal in the recent controversy over the SGPC elections regarding voting rights to the Sahajdhari Sikhs, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today demanded a high level inquiry into the whole episode to find out the truth.

Addressing a press conference after meeting about a dozen delegations from different sections of the society here today, Capt Amarinder in reply to a question that the Badals had sought CBI inquiry, said, even he wanted an independent inquiry at the highest level. “I strongly believe that the Badals’ enacted and orchestrated the whole drama to generate sympathy and also momentum for the campaigning as nobody was bothered about these elections in Punjab”, he remarked.

The PCC President asked, “by demanding to probe the PCC role in the controversy do they think they will simply get away?” He remarked, “knowing well their complicity in the controversy they are now trying to put the blame on the Congress which we will not allow to happen and that is why I am demanding a high level inquiry”.

Defending his stand about the voting rights to Sahajdhari Sikhs, Capt Amarinder said, the Akalis were trying to repeat the same mistake they committed during the Punjabi Suba movement. “Just to get majority in the elections they broke down Punjab into small pieces and now they are doing the same thing by shutting their doors on the Sahajdhari Sikhs in order to have sole control over SGPC”, he said, while adding, they want only those people to vote whom they think will only vote for them.

He pointed out, of 1.22 crore Sikh voters in Punjab, 62 lakh are Sahajdharis. “You can’t ignore such a large section of people who are very much Sikhs”, he argued, while asserting, “anybody who is born to the Sikh parents and has faith in the Sikh religion must have the right to vote in the SGPC elections”.

The PCC President categorically made it clear that the Congress had no role in the SGPC elections. “Not only in Punjab, but even at the national level Congress does not participate in any religion related election activity”, he pointed out, while ridiculing the Badals for seeing his hand in everything. “Earlier they blamed the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh urging the Akal Takht to summon him and now they started blaming me”, he pointed out, while referring to the desperately confused state of mind of the Akalis.

Asked about the impact of the SGPC results on the assembly elections, the former Chief Minister replied, “the SGPC elections represent a very small segment, rather a fraction, of the Punjab electorate and it will have no impact on the assembly elections when the Akali-BJP alliance would be wiped out of the state”.

He disclosed that 12 delegations met him today. These included Knitwear Club Ludhiana, Induction Furnace Association, Beopar Mandal, Brahman Sabha Punjab, Dalit Samaj, Adi Dharam Samaj, Jain Sabha, Durga Mata Mandir Trust, Gujjar Samaj, Sain Samaj, Satguru Kabir Sewa Sangh, Safai Mazdoor Congress and others.

The PCC President said, he had noted down their views and problems and some of these will be incorporated into the party manifesto. He said, he will again be meeting some of these associations for detailed and thorough discussions.

During his meeting with various industrial associations, who complained that they had been ignored and victimised by the Akali-BJP government, he said, “we need you as much as you need us”. He pointed out, Punjab cannot progress without industry and promised that when Congress comes to power in the state the industry will be accorded top priority.

Prominent among those present today included the PCC general secretary Arvind Khanna, DCC urban and rural presidents Pawan Dewan and Milkiat Singh Dakha, OSDs Karanpal Sekhon and Major Amardeep, former minister Milkiat Singh Birmi, Surinder Dawer, senior leaders and legislators including Jassi Khangura, Harmohinder Singh Pardhan, Gurmail Pahalwan, Bhupinder Sidhu, Amarjit Singh Tikka and others.

source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/conte...sy-capt-amarinder-seeks-high-level-probe/3314

 

[spnadmin]

Related story

Punjab blows hot and cold as SGPC poll drama unfolds

CHANDIGARH: An intense 19-hour drama, that left poll-bound Punjab on tenterhooks, finally came to an end when Union home minister P Chidambaram told Parliament on Friday that the Centre had not made any statement rolling back a notification banning voting rights of "Sehajdharis" during the SGPC polls scheduled for September 18.

The disclosure came hours after a senior advocate told the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday evening that the Centre was withdrawing the 2003 notification, that revived hopes among the Sehajdharis (a term describing those who are gradually adopting Sikhism).

Advocate Harbhagwan Singh's statement in HC led to widespread protests all over Punjab on Thursday, with SGPC and Akali leaders fearing that, with no clarity on the definition of a Sehajdhari yet, Patits (apostates) and non-Sikhs could now vote in the garb of Sehajdharis. There were apprehensions that restoring the voting rights to "Sehajdharis" may lead to delay in polls in order to accommodate them in the list.

On Friday, Chidambaram's statement cleared the way for SGPC polls to be held on schedule.

Thursday's move had rattled the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which political observers say have a lot in stake in the gurdwara polls that is being held less than six months before the Punjab Assembly elections. Their edginess was apparent when they rushed chief minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal to Delhi to put pressure on UPA with the help of their ally BJP.

Chidambaram told Parliament: "? neither the ministry of law nor the ministry of home affairs had given a vakalatnama to Harbhagwan Singh. No one from the government had briefed him. Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to rescind or withdraw the notification."

This led SAD and SGPC to attack the Opposition Congress, calling Harbhagwan's statement to the court on Thursday "a part of a conspiracy to scuttle the SGPC polls as they were apprehensive of SAD sweeping the polls and getting an edge in the coming Assembly elections".

Badal even demanded a CBI probe into the confusion that "led to unrest in Punjab". The Sikh clergy warned the PM "he can be summoned at the Akal Takht if he failed to control those within the UPA who are inimical to the Sikh community".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...PC-poll-drama-unfolds/articleshow/9842958.cms

 

[spnadmin]

Related story

Shaven Sikhs can't vote in SGPC polls: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Centre has assured Parliament that it has no intention of amending a notification curtailing the rights of sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, nipping a potentially emotive political agitation.

The Centre acted after all panthic groups and the Shiromani Akali Dal criticized the submission by its counsel to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the ban on shaven Sikhs voting in the SGPC elections was being reviewed.

The move set off shockwaves in Punjab where Akalis swiftly accused Congress of interfering in Sikh affairs and SGPC election due later this month, making the debate sharper. It is understood that the submission was prompted by senior Punjab Congress leaders, who felt the gambit could be politically beneficial.

The developments led to urgent fire-fighting at the Centre, with the government telling BJP that the counsel did not hold the brief and appeared to have misled the court. It was conveyed that the Centre has no intention of tampering with SGPC election rules.

Keeping sehajdharis out of the voting process was decided in 2003 when then home minister L K Advani reached an agreement with Sikh groups, including BJP ally SAD. Reversing the order was bound to provoke an outcry with Akalis raising "Sikhism in danger" slogan.

Congress leaders informed BJP on Thursday evening itself that the matter would be sorted out with the court being informed of the correct position.

There is some puzzlement in Congress circles about the argument presented to the court as the party senses the possibility of defeating the ruling Akali-BJP combine in the assembly polls due next year. Needling Sikh sensibilities does not seem like sound politics.

While the Akalis welcomed the decision not to alter the notification on sehajdharis, they demanded an inquiry into how the Centre's counsel "misled" the court. Akalis see the hand of their bitter Congress rival Amarinder Singh and would like to pin down the bid to change the voting rules onto to him.

The emotive issue of "shaven" Sikhs could set off a strong reaction against Congress among the landed or Jat Sikhs, who are the backbone of Akali support. Congress has won whenever it has been able to capitalize on this section's disenchantment with SAD.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-in-SGPC-polls-Centre/articleshow/9843031.cms

Note: This is the official statement from the Centre as of this time.

Home Minister’s Statement on Court Cases Relating to SGPC Elections
The following is the text of the statement made in Parliament today by the Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram regarding the court cases relating to elections to the SGPC:

“Yesterday evening, Ministry of Home Affairs received a report that Shri Harbhagwan Singh, Senior Advocate, appeared in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana in the cases relating to the elections to the SGPC. He appears to have made the claim that he was representing the Government of India and he stated that the notification dated 8.10.2003 was being withdrawn by the Government of India. On his statement, the High Court is reported to have passed certain orders.

On a suggestion that a suitable senior counsel may be engaged to appear in the matter, Ministry of Law and Justice had written a letter dated 1.9.2011 approving the engagement of Shri Harbhagwan Singh in two of the three cases before the High Court. A copy of the order has not yet been received in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Neither the Ministry of Law nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had given a vakalatnama to Shri Harbhagwan Singh. No one from the Government had briefed him. In particular, he had no authority to make the statement that the notification dated 8.10.2003 would be withdrawn.

Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to rescind or withdraw the notification dated 8.10.2003.

Government will bring the above facts to the notice of the High Court today.”

*****


OK/KS
(Release ID :75421)


http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=75421

 

[Archived_Member16]

Clergy faces flak for threat to summon PM

September 4, 2011

Clergy faces flak for threat to summon PM

IP Singh, TNN | Sep 4, 2011, 05.40AM IST

JALANDHAR: The Sikh clergy threatening to summon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Akal Takht following the fiasco over the notification on voting rights of Sehajdharis, has not gone down well with prominent Sikhs.

The clergy is facing criticism from many sections that say that the jathedar should first summon the Punjab CM for ordering arrest of Sikh activists closing down branches of the Sirsa Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab, following directions of the Akal Takht in 2007.

They also dared Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh to summon the SGPC president for not complying orders to send a fact-finding delegation to Vienna, after the murder of Sant Ramanand, which caused a rift between Sikhs and Ravidasias, in 2009.

"The clergy seems to be siding with Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal by making such a statement when there has been no violation of Sikh 'maryada' or tradition by the PM," said former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh.

Professor of Sikhism, Gurtej Singh, said: "They have no business abusing any Sikh, including Manmohan Singh. Jathedars have once again proved that they were puppets in the hands of a political party that gave up its panthic identity 15 years ago."

Former SGPC secretary general Manjit Singh Calcutta said that over 11 years ago, on May 14, 2000, the Akal Takht had directed the SGPC to arrange debates and discussions on the Dasam Granth and also urged various quarters against raising a controversy through media. The SGPC failed to comply with these directions despite reminders, keeping the issue simmering and leading to division in the community.

In another direction in 2007, the priests had attempted a review of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to keep it free of politics but nothing happened, he said. Gurbachan Singh told The Times of India he was responsible for getting these directions implemented during his tenure. But he said he was not aware whether the directive pertaining to the Vienna visit, which was issued by him, was implemented or not.

"We shall pull bring to task anybody who does not comply with the directions," he said.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9855171.cms

 

[kds1980]

Amarinder Also Demands Probe into Sehajdhari Vote Controversy

Capt too demands probe into Sehajdhari vote controversy

Capt too demands probe into Sehajdhari vote controversy
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 3
Not ruling out the role of the CM Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in the recent controversy over the SGPC elections, PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh today demanded a high-level inquiry into the whole episode to ferret out the truth.

Addressing a press conference after meeting about a dozen delegations from different sections of the society here today, Amarinder, in reply to a question that the Badals had sought a CBI inquiry, said even he wanted an independent inquiry. "I strongly believe that the Badals orchestrated the whole drama to generate sympathy and also generate momentum for the campaigning as no one was bothered about these elections in Punjab," he remarked.

Defending his stand on the voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs, he said the Akalis were trying to repeat the mistake they had committed during the Punjabi Suba movement.

The PPCC president categorically made it clear that the Congress had no role in the SGPC elections. "Not only in Punjab, but also at the national level the Congress does not participate in any religion related election activity," he said.

Asked about the impact of the SGPC election results on the assembly elections, the former CM replied, "The SGPC elections represent a very small segment of the electorate and these elections will have no impact on assembly polls.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110904/punjab.htm#3

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

Re: Clergy faces flak for threat to summon PM

These jokers are just joe boys for Badal...if Badal says SIT..they say where ?? if he says JUMP..they ask how high ?? no one really respects them anymore...they live in their own ivory tower..called Akal TOWER !!