With elections to the general house of the DSGMC just two weeks away, electioneering is gearing up. Sirsa continues his upmanship unabated, Directorate maintains stunning silence and Sarna goes to court through an associate who has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking a restraining order on the opening ceremony of Bala Sahib Hospital, alleging model code of conduct. WSN reports.

IN A PETITION FILED WITH THE DELHI HIGH COURT, Delhi Sikh resident Sahibjit Singh Bindra, considered close to Delhi Akali Dal President Paramjit Singh Sarna, sought a delay of the opening of the Bala Sahib after the DSGMC elections scheduled for 22 August.

During the proceedings in the court of Justice Prateek Jalan, the judge indicated verbally that he was not inclined to accept the Badal Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa plea that they are only performing Ardas on 13 August. Sirsa’s lawyer Harish Malhotra submitted that they are not opening the said hospital on 7 August, but would only perform Ardas for “extension of beds required in the preparation of fighting Covid19 third wave, should it come.”

Reportedly, Justice Jalan told the DSGMC lawyer that performing Ardas is possible only by holding a function and holding any such function would be a violation of the Model Code of Conduct of the DSGMC elections. 

The Judge also admonished the lawyers of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections for not doing enough in the matter of taking steps against violations of the Model Code of Conduct and asked them to file an affidavit in the matter by 9 August 2021.

“We have to balance spiritual feelings and free and fair elections.” 

Justice Prateek Jalan, Judge, Delhi High Court

Accepting the request of the DSGMC lawyer for another date to seek details from his client -Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi High Court judge Justice Jalan put the next date of hearing for 11 August 2021.

Opposition groups in the DSGMC elections have been crying hoarse regarding violation of the model code of conduct, but Sirsa has so far continued his politically motivated spree, unmindful of the concerns of the Sikh Sangat and in his burning desire to seek publicity. 

It is a norm of well-accepted electoral behaviour that all opening ceremonies be not carried out while the election process is underway. Significantly the court too observed that “we have to balance spiritual feelings and free and fair elections.” 

The next few days will unfold yet another chapter in the ongoing DSGMC elections drama.