High Court directs SGPC to give Giani Nandgarh his appointment letter

Chandigarh: Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib has moved to Takht Damdama Sahib against Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC)’s move to remove him from the post of Jathedar. It shows ruined state of Sikh affairs as the prestige of the status of Jathedar has been put in jeopardy both by the SGPC and Gaini Balwant Singh Nandgarh. SGPC, a statutory body formed to manage affairs of historic Sikh Gurdwaras, has eventually reduced the “post” Jathedars to that of an “employee” of the SGPC.

Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh [File Photo]

Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh was appointed as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in 2003. He was recently removed by the SGPC after he openly supported the Nankshahi Calendar and opposed the SGPC’s move to revert back to Bikrami Calendar.

Giani Nanadgarh’s petition was reportedly listed for hearing yesterday (March 16) before the bench of justice AG Masih, but as lawyers abstained from work, the matter was adjourned for today.

As per information the High Court today directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) to give appointment letter to Giani Nandgarh, which was issued in 2003 when he was appointed as jathedar.

He wants the SGPC resolution about his sacking quashed and his services as jathedar restored. He argued that since the SGPC had issued no notice to seek his version, its order passed in an executive-board meeting without prior notice was illegal. The sacking order came to him on January 19, post this meeting.

In January, the HC had refused to intervene in the tussle between Nandgarh and the SGPC over Nanakshahi Calendar. A public-interest petition to thwart the SGPC from sacking Nandgarh was dismissed, stating that no public interest was involved. The petitioner had alleged Nandgarh had been sacked for opposing the Bikrami calendar and supporting the Nanakshahi calendar and its amended version.