Embarrassed by the leakage of the exhaustive report of the Fact-finding Committee on 267 Missing Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, putting up a brave face, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Gobind Singh Longowal released the report with affidavits, on the website of the SGPC on the intervening night of 6/7 October 2020.  Sikh circles have been demanding the report since long. With the farmers’ revolt on, this will be another front which will catch the attention of the Panthic forces and further push the Badal Dal and the SGPC leadership into a corner.

THE THREE-MEMBER FACT-FINDING COMMISSION INTO THE 267 missing Saroops case, formed under the directive of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, yesterday released its full report, with annexures making a plethora of recommendations to the Jathedar Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Normally, the SGPC contains only religious matters, but this time around, right on top of the site, the reports are available as pdf files.  The full reports have been uploaded onto the website of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee -www.sgpc.net.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, authorised by the SGPC through its resolution dated 17 July 2020, set up a Committee of experts led by lawyer-activist Dr Eshar Singh, assisted by Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyers Dr Harpreet Kaur and Harleen Kaur and who submitted the exhaustive 267-page report with 157 pages of annexures.

After going through all documents available in the Publication and Printing Department, which had been sealed under order of Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib, the recording was written and oral evidence as required, this investigative team submitted the report.

In its initial remarks, the team has stated the SGPC has never taken care in handling the work of the publication department, though it was to be handled with top priority.

The team has observed that “No Committee is good or bad, it is the people who occupy posts, who due to negligence, inability or lack of faith, commitment and truthfulness, put a question mark on the capacity and reputation of the organisation. They have also observed that the Five Singh Sahibans were not apprised of the anomalies of the working of the Publication Department as far as relating to the printing and distribution of Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.

From the files received from Akal Takht Sahib, the enquiry commission came to know that one Sarabjit Singh Verka through Justice Ajit Singh Bains (Retd), Chairman, Punjab Human Rights Organisation, Chandigarh had brought to the notice of Chief Secretary Punjab on 26 June 2020 about the 267 missing Saroops.

The report further records that he also apprised the Chief Secretary that, “80 Saroops got burnt and spoilt in May 2016. He apprised that due to political reasons, an enquiry into this was not done and secretly these Saroops were disposed of (Saskar or Agan Bhet). They were not shown in records and no pardon was pleaded for the guilt as per the Sikh Maryada. A copy of this was also sent to Akal Takht Sahib.”

The Commission has also recorded that a letter was received from Kanwaljit Singh, a former assistant supervisor who stated in the letter to the publication department dated 21-May-2020 that he is ready to submit the amount of the 267 missing Saroops. The same letter was written to the Chief Secretary on 28 May 2020. A few days before his retirement he wrote to the SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal, as to how all officials violated their powers and were mentally harassing him and that he was being pressurized to sign on papers which he never wanted to. He also requested the president to get his dues of provident fund and gratuity paid.

SGPC employee Kanwaljit Singh also requested Sukhchain Singh Gill, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar on 28 June 2020 to file a complaint about the missing Saroops mismanagement, violation of powers by officials of SGPC, harassment and forcing him to sign on papers against his will. He pleaded to Giani Harpreet Singh on 15 July 2020 to set up an enquiry on the issue of burnt Saroops case of May 19, 2016.

The key question still remains unanswered. This enquiry report has no reference to this. Where did the missing Saroops go? Neither fear of God or Guru was able to convince the witnesses and the people questioned by the Commission to come up with these details as those involved have maintained a deathly silence on the matter.

The Dr Eshar Singh Enquiry Commission has made many detailed recommendations to the SGPC regarding printing, publication, distribution and upkeep of Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.

Printing and Publication Premises to be fully automated: Among the primary recommendations is that the premises for the printing of Saroops should be equipped with modern technology and machinery with a separate walled building with adequate security measures. The person in charge must be fully responsible and accountable for the work at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib, The building is to be divided into 3 sections handling printing, binding and distribution with all tasks fully computerised.  A proper process to be designed and followed for proofreading and coding.

Printing and Binding: The commission suggested to make sure we use the best quality paper. A special mention has been made that an internal auditor and any member of the audit committee should not be involved in the process of paper and ink procurement. The paper should be purchased directly from the manufacturer instead of the agents. The record of ink and wastage paper to be properly maintained and all papers with errors should be collected and recorded and then disposed of as per the defined process. The ledger has to be meticulously maintained while transferring the papers to the binding section. A monthly audit and report have to be prepared by the Assistant Secretary and the Chief Secretary is to review the same. It is even specified that the racks should be made of wood or steel and not iron.

Special Numbering System: A special Numbering system to be followed which should be mentioned on the white sheet in the end. The number should have the lot number, total count, date of procurement from the press and a special stamp.

Procurement Team and Process: A special terms and conditions for the people and management involved in procurement, printing, publishing and distribution have to be made which will have special instructions and guidelines.

Weekly Stock Audit: A weekly stock audit to be done and proper signatures and approvals of SGPC to be taken before handing over the Saroops. No overwriting with pen on duplicate receipts or use of pencil is permitted. All records to be computerised and to be placed online.

Managing Birdh -Worn Out Saroops: A record of the Birdh/Old Saroops must be maintained by a separate department and all proper ledgers to be maintained regarding Saskar of such Saroops and guidelines for the same to be followed.

Quarterly Report and Random Checks: The SGPC President should present all data in a report to be prepared on a quarterly basis, relating to Gurdwaras and Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, including details of how many were given with payment and how many without payment. Jathedars and Singh Sahibans must conduct random checks to ensure that the proper process is being followed regularly by all concerned.

It is significant and deeply concerning that though the Fact-Finding Commission has attempted to point out the loopholes in the system and recommended the way forward, the most important question as to where the missing Saroops went still remains unanswered.

The Enquiry Commission has attempted to look into the future by urging the SGPC to take the support of Information Technology experts and build a tracking centre for the Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib. The details of all Saroops in the world should be collected and maintained in this tracking centre. While the distribution of Saroops to the Sangat -all required names, addresses with identification details of individuals and organisations, photographs of the place and a promissory note from the receiver that proper respect and sanctity will be maintained has to be taken and preserved.

The key question still remains unanswered. This enquiry report has no reference to this. Where did the missing Saroops go? Neither fear of God or Guru was able to convince the witnesses and the people questioned by the Commission to come up with these details as those involved have maintained a deathly silence on the matter.

The Akal Takht Sahib, the SGPC and Panthic organisations will have to take this up in a way that there is no further embarrassment to the community.

Gurmeet Singh is a so­cial, re­li­gious and hu­man rights ac­tivist based in Delhi. He takes a keen in­ter­est in Sikh af­fairs and keeps abreast of Pan­thic de­vel­op­ments.