DSGMC members and the political powers that manage these, are playing games with Sikh sentiments. In the petition filed by DSGMC member Gurmeet Singh Shunty, the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections exposes the behind-the-scene manoeuvres of the Akali leadership of the body that manages Gurdwaras and Sikh institutions in Delhi.  Sadly, the Sikh Sangat gives a damn. WSN warns that we get what we deserve!

On a petition filed by DSGMC member Gurmeet Singh Shunty against the Director, Gurdwara Elections and the DSGMC, Sanjeev Kumar, Additional District Judge at Tees Hazari Courts, Delhi stayed the convening of the Executive body meeting of the DSGMC scheduled for 19 January on the grounds that as per the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971, the executive committee members should have submitted their resignations to the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections, Government of Delhi.

It is interesting to note that on the one hand Gurmeet Singh Shunty has pursued the matter of corruption in the DSGMC upto the Delhi High Court and obtained an order to file an FIR against Manjit Singh GK and others leading to the filing of the same; now he has rushed to the Sessions court seeking a restraining order for the DSGMC general house meet and obtained that order too as a result of which there will be no meeting on 19 January 2019.

“WSN warns that you get what you deserve. It is time to cry “Enough!” and catch the bull by its horns!”

On the one hand there are substantive charges of corruption against the incumbent President Manjit Singh GK  and an FIR too has been registered against him, they have confounded the issue so much that it is still unclear whether the full executive committee of the DSGMC has resigned or not, whether they intend to resign or not and what level of politicking is going on in the Shiromani Akali Dal vis-a-vis running the affairs of the DSGMC, with interference and meddling by the Bharatiya Janta Party.

“Why is he doing so?” When WSN confronted an activist who keeps a tab on the developments in the DSGMC, he said, ‘Wheels within wheels. Some dealing-wheeling between some powers and some powers to be seems to have gone awry.’

“The alleged plea of resignation of the members and office bearers is an afterthought as by the said letter dated 9.1.2019, they have made aware that till the board members’ term is not expired, no early election can be held. Therefore, the story of resignation of all Executive Board members was concocted.”

Directorate, Gurdwara Elections, New Delhi

Shunty’s plea was that the present President has called for a meeting of the Executive Board scheduled to be held on 19.1.2019 though the turn of the Executive Board is two years which is to be expired on 29.3.2019 as last elections of the Executive Board was held on 30.3.2017.  He pleaded that, as such, ‘The preponement of elections is illegal.’

He further submitted that, “the meeting of the Executive Board was held on 6.12.9018 and in the said meeting, it is recorded that the elections of the Executive Board is to be conducted on 29.12.2018, subject to the approval of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections but no approval has been granted by the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections.”

As referred to in the order, the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections sought clarifications from the President and the Secretary vide letter dated 26.12.2018 seeking reason behind preponement of elections, as a result of which no election was held on 29.12.2018 and then the Executive Board meeting was scheduled for 19.1.2019.

“Wheels within wheels. Some dealing-wheeling between some powers and some powers to be seems to have gone awry.”

The Directorate of Gurdwara Elections informed the Sessions court that the Officiating President and General Secretary have submitted that “the reason for preponement of election is that all the office bearers and members of DSGMC have resigned.”

Significantly, the Directorate made a serious allegation against the Executive Board in its submission that, ‘the alleged plea of resignation of the members and office bearers is an afterthought as by the said letter dated 9.1.2019, they have made aware that till the board members’ term is not expired, no early election can be held. Therefore, the story of resignation of all Executive Board members was concocted.”

Lambasting the sinister game plan of Manjit Singh GK and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, election officer Joginder Singh and section officer Binod Kumar of the directorate, who appeared in person, stated that, “even if the Executive Board members have presumed to be resigned, their resignations could not become final until and unless the same are accepted by the Executive Board or committee, as the case may be, as per Section 4 (a), Section 17 (2) (b) and Section 17 (3) of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act, 1971.

Exposing their design, the directorate’s submission adds that, “since in this case, entire Executive Board has resigned therefore, this is the committee who can accept the resignation but no committee meeting has been called therefore, the resignation has not been accepted. Hence, the Executive Board office bearers are still holding their posts therefore, no early elections can be held as there is no vacancy which can be filled.”

“Each of these leaders of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee –from top to bottom, the leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections are playing games with Sikh sentiments.”

Appearing on behalf of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections, its counsel further argued that “Even a letter dated 6.12.2018 written by the General Secretary and President to the Directororate of Gurudwara Elections and in the letter/circular dated 29.12.2018 of the Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, there is no mention of the resignation of the Executive Board members which clearly proves that the alleged resignation letters of the Executive Board are forged and fabricated and manipulated later on to create false grounds and in these circumstances, he submits that holding of elections of the Executive Board members on 19.1.2019 is illegal hence, same is required to be stayed.”

All of these were contested by the DSGMC under Sections 31 and 33 of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971 stating that there was no need for information regarding resignation to be conveyed to the Directorate of Gurdwara elections and furthermore that resignations of all 47 members had been taken by way of a circular with signature from all members.

The Additional District Judge Shri Sanjeev Kar in his order has stated that, “from the aforesaid communications between the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections and office bearers, it is evident that till date no permission has been granted by the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections to conduct elections of the committee. Further, I also find force in the contention of the counsel for the plaintiff that resignation, if at all, given by the President and other members of the Executive Board is required to be accepted before the committee as per Section 17 (3) of the Act.”

The judge dismissed outright “The contention of the counsel for the defendant that acceptance of the resignation has been taken from the members of committee by the circular cannot be accepted as acceptance has to be by way of majority but from the circulation of letter of 6.121.2018 sent by Sh. Manjeet Singh, I found that against few of the committee members’ resignation, accepted has been written. Further, it cannot be said from this that the same has been written by them or they have just signed as receiving of circular.”

Taking all arguments and information placed before him, the judged granted interim stay against holding elections of the Executive Board of DSGMC on 19.1.2019 and posted the matter for 21 February 2019.

“By remaining mute spectators to the designs of such leaders on all sides of the spectrum, the Sikh Sangat is allowing them to go scot-free of their malicious intentions and power games.”

On the one hand, Gurmeet Singh Shunty wants to dislodge Manjit Singh GK and company and on the other he has sought a stay on the 19 January meet, which has been granted. What is his motive?

What game is he playing and what games are all playing? Each of these leaders of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee –from top to bottom, the leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections are playing games with Sikh sentiments.

 If you like our stories, do follow WSN on Facebook.

The second largest population of Sikhs outside of Punjab in Delhi is watching the proceedings only from the sidelines. By remaining mute spectators to the designs of such leaders on all sides of the spectrum, the Sikh Sangat is allowing them to go scot-free of their malicious intentions and power games.

WSN warns that you get what you deserve. It is time to cry “Enough!” and catch the bull by its horns!