Supreme Court to hear case HSGMC versus SGPC on July 7, Daduwal says pursuing for control of Haryana gurdwara

AMBALA: The Supreme Court on India on Tuesday was scheduled to hear the case listed at number 29 between ad-hoc Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sri Amritsar, but the same has been rescheduled for Wednesday over some technicalities in online software.
HSGMC and SGPC are fighting a case following a civil writ petition (CWP) number 735 of 2014, over a separate gurdwara management body for the Haryana state.
SGPC being the foremost organisation of Sikhs manages the majority of Gurdwaras in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh.
But in 2014, the then Haryana government lead by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had passed HSGMC Act in the state legislative assembly, forming a separate gurdwara management body for the state but the same was challenged by Kurukshetra-based member of SGPC Harbhajan Singh Masanan, who is also executive committee (EC) member of SGPC.
The Supreme Court is hearing the cases virtually through video conferencing and due to some technical issue in online software, the case listed after number 26 could not be heard and the top court rescheduled the case for Wednesday, said HSGMC lead head-cum-joint secretary advocate Chandeep Singh.
Sources told that the Punjab government has already cleared its stand on separate gurdwara management for Haryana and submitted a no-objection affidavit in the Supreme Court in November 2019. The Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also recently assured the HSGMC delegation that their government would also be supporting the demand for a separate gurdwara management committee for the state, said the sources.
Advocate Chandeep Singh said, "The case was scheduled for July 6, but the SGPC lawyer submitted in the Supreme Court that they are not ready in the matter and requested for a next date. HSGMC advocate countered the submission by SGPC on July 5 that the case should be heard and it was listed for Tuesday by the Court on 29th number. But as the court proceedings reached the 26th case on the list, their software developed some issues and the case has not been listed for Wednesday."
Chandeep claimed that "Haryana government has so far not submitted the no objection affidavit in the court but it is saying yes to our case of separate gurdwara body for the state. Punjab and Haryana governments are supporting the case of HSGMC and very soon, the case would turn to the arguments."
With regards to the ongoing case in Supreme Court, an emergency meeting was called by HSGMC president Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal on Monday, on the appeal of HSGMC member Didar Singh Nalvi, which was chaired by Daduwal at Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin and Nauvin, Cheeka, Kaithal.
HSGMC secretary Sarabjit Singh confirmed that the meeting was called to discuss the case ongoing against SGPC at the Supreme Court.
Sarabjit Singh said the meeting was attended by HSGMC senior vice-president Karnail Singh Nimnabad, vice-president Swaran Singh Ratia, general secretary Jasvir Singh Bhatti, members of HSGMC executive committee (EC) Satpal Singh Ramgarhia, Harbhajan Singh Rathour, Gurcharan Singh Cheemo, and members Avtar Singh Chakku, Baldev Singh Balli and Mohanjit Singh Panipat.
"All the present members have prayed for the case in the favour of HSGMC", said HSGMC secretary Sarabjit Singh.
HSGMC president Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal said, "HSGMC is seriously pursuing the case for taking control of Haryana gurdwaras.
Akali Dal Badal is taking away the money of Haryana gurdwaras and misusing it. This case is pending since 2014, therefore, we look forward to immediate arguments and decisions. The Supreme Court should do justice with the Sikhs of Haryana, so that, they can themselves take care of the gurdwaras in the state. After taking control of Haryana gurdwaras, the Sikhs in the state would be able to do proper management of gurdwaras along with providing services of Dharam Prachar, colleges, schools, and hospitals to the society and community."
SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said, "Daduwal wants to take control of SGPC gurdwaras in Haryana state and he hardly knows the functioning style of SGPC."