The appointment of 41 members to the ad-hoc committee of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) remains in a state of uncertainty, with the process stalled due to the lack of an official oath-taking ceremony. The newly-appointed members, eager to assume their responsibilities, are awaiting government orders to formalise their roles and form an executive committee to oversee the management of Haryana’s gurdwaras.
On August 14, the BJP-led Haryana government released the list of 41 nominated members through a gazette notification issued by the Home Department. This new committee is tasked with overseeing and supervising the assets of gurdwaras across the state. The notification, grounded in the powers conferred by sub-section (8) of section 16 of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, and the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Amendment Act, 2022, also nullified any previously constituted committees under these provisions.
Despite the issuance of this notification, the procedural next steps, including the oath-taking ceremony, are yet to be completed. The members are required to take their oath of office at Gurdwara Patshahi Chevvin in Kurukshetra, considered the headquarters of the HSGMC. However, the process has hit a roadblock, as the oath ceremony could not be conducted by the Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner before the implementation of Model Code of Conduct.
Newly-appointed member Baljit Singh Daduwal, who has previously served as the president of the HSGMC, expressed his concern over the delay. “Even though the notification regarding our appointment was issued on August 14, the subsequent procedures, including the oath ceremony, have not been completed yet,” he said.
In an effort to expedite the process, several newly-inducted members met with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, urging him to facilitate their appointment by administering the oath of office through the Haryana Governor. However, the Chief Minister reportedly conveyed his inability to proceed due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, which restricts certain government actions during the election period.
The composition of the new ad-hoc committee marks a significant shift in leadership, with several former members, including ex-president Bhupinder Singh Assandh, ex-vice president Didar Singh Nalvi, ex-general secretary Ramnik Singh Mann, and ex-executive member Winner Singh, being excluded. However, some members from the previous panel, such as Baljit Singh Daduwal, Sudarshan Singh Sehgal, Ravinder Kaur Ajrana, Jagsir Singh Mangeana, Baba Gurmeet Singh Tirlokewala, and Sukhwinder Singh Mandebar, have been retained.
The delay in the oath-taking ceremony has not only stalled the formation of the executive committee but also sparked controversy within the Sikh community. Former panel chief Didar Singh Nalvi criticized the government for misleading the public and argued that the formation of the committee cannot be completed without following proper procedures. “Now, there is no need to challenge the appointment of the members in court as their appointment has already hit a hurdle,” Nalvi remarked.
Dissent within the Sikh community has further complicated the situation. Many members are calling for the government to conduct elections for the HSGMC, in accordance with the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Amendment Act, 2022. Baba Mehar Singh, a prominent figure from Gurdwara Nabiabad in Karnal district, who was initially nominated as a member of the ad-hoc committee, has publicly disassociated himself from the government-nominated panel.
In a video statement, he expressed his disapproval of the appointment process and the lack of adherence to the prescribed election procedures.
Meanwhile, the delay in the oath-taking ceremony and the formation of the executive committee have cast a shadow over the future management of Haryana’s Gurdwaras, leaving many to wonder when and how this impasse will be resolved.
