DSGMC Elections 2021

What do you know of the Co-option Drama of DSGMC elections?

Published 3 years ago - Gurmeet Singh - 3y ago 213

After the results of the election of 46 members, now it is time for co-option of 9 members to the eighth General House of the DSGMC which is to be completed within 15 days of the election results. This process, which should be democratic and smooth is against due process and electoral norms and provisions of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1971. WSN Delhi Desk’s Gurmeet Singh examines the provisions of the Act and how Badal Dal upstaged the process in nominating defeated DSGMC President Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

The announcement of Manjinder Singh Sirsa as the SGPC nominee as one of the co-opted members for the new committee was done by Badal Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal at a press conference in Delhi on 25 August, once it was clear that he had lost elections from the prestigious Punjabi Bagh constituency to Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi leader Harvinder Singh Sarna.

Soon after the results on 25 August, the SGPC and Badal Dal leadership acted with alacrity in declaring Manjinder Singh Sirsa their co-opted representative.

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (Co-option of Members) Rules, 1974, state that the Administrative Officer of the Gurdwara Committee shall communicate in writing the name and address of the nominee of SGPC to the Director, on the day fixed for co-option of the members but before the hour fixed for the meeting. In subsection 3 of clause 5 in part II, it clearly states that after co-option of the head priests of the Takhts, the Director shall read out the name of the nominee of SGPC, Amritsar and call upon the members present in the meeting to propose the name of the said nominee.

2 of the 9 co-options, as per the Act and rules thereunder are to be done by drawing lots out of the list of Presidents of Registered Singh Sabhas. Significantly, who are the presidents of which Singh Sabhas is not known as the list has not been uploaded onto the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections website, clearly leaving room for manoeuvre and manipulation.

2 of the 9 co-options, as per the Act and rules thereunder are to be done by drawing lots out of the list of Presidents of Registered Singh Sabhas. Significantly, who are the presidents of which Singh Sabhas is not known as the list has not been uploaded onto the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections website, clearly leaving room for manoeuvre and manipulation.

The Jathedars of Akal Takht Sahib, Kesgarh Sahib, Patna Sahib and Hazur Sahib are the other 4 nominees but without voting rights. The Directorate has not clarified as to whether the Jathedar of the fifth Takht would be also made an ex officio member, though the Delhi Assembly did pass an amendment to this effect.

2 more members are chosen from among the Sikh community leaders from Delhi, on the basis of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Effectively meaning that of the 46 members, with a tally of 27 for Badal Dal and a combined tally of 19 for the opposition parties, 1 nominee each will be selected for the winning group and 1 for the losers.

The entity of Shiromani Akal Dal Badal as a religious group or a political party is under consideration of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The letter of SGPC raises many questions. There is a resolution dated 23 August of the executive of SGPC giving all powers to the President of SGPC to nominate and send the name of the nominee. Bibi Jagir Kaur and SGPC were proactive to send the names and Sukhbir Singh Badal announced it even before the official declaration of results came from the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections. The nomination announcement was done even before the General House has formally met for the first time.

Another aspect that needs emphasis is that the entity of Shiromani Akal Dal Badal as a religious group or a political party is under consideration of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The plot will unfold in the next few days!!