Mini Parliament of Sikhs

n The SGPC manages most gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, HP and Chandigarh

n With an annual budget of Rs 580 crore, its main tasks are maintenance of gurdwaras, running educational institutions and propagating religion

n For the SGPC poll, there are 120 constituencies; 110 in Punjab, eight in Haryana and one each in HP and Chandigarh

n 50 are double-member constituencies, reserved either for women or SC candidates

n In the existing SGPC House, there are 30 women members from double-member seats and three from single-member seats (33 in all)

n The double-member constituency system was first implemented in 1996

n The SGPC elections were first conducted on June 18, 1926, after the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, came into effect

n The House comprises 170 members, of which 100 come from 50 double-member constituencies

n There are 15 nominated members as well. Six slots are for five high priests and the head granthi of the Golden Temple, taking the total number of members to 191

READ MORE :http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110730/punjab.htm#12

Haryana court issues warrants against Sikh Jathedar, Akal Takht warns against arrest

 A court in Haryana has issued non-bailable warrants against Jatehdar of Takht Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh. Takht Damdama falls in Talwandi Sabo town of Bathinda district in Punjab. So far no Sikh Jathedar had ever appeared before any court of law in his official capacity.

Jatehdar Akal Takht Gyani Gurbachan Singh talking to Punjabnewsline.com here today said, “Nandgarh would never appear in the court law in the capacity of Jatehdar Takht Damdama Sahib. Since, so far, no serving Jatehdar ever appeared in any of the worldly court. Moreover, no worldly court is above Akal Takht the highest Sikh Temporal Seat”.

Adding further, Gyani Gurbachan Singh said, “If Haryana police comes at Takht Talwandi Sabo, in such circumstances, the entire Sikh community would stand by Nandgarh at the time of arrest. It is not as easy as Haryana police thinks”.

Gyani Gurbachan Singh said that a complaint against Jatehdar Nandgarh was filed in the State of Haryana by one of the follower of Dera Sacha Sauda Sect falsely with the allegation that sentiments of followers of Dera Sacha Sauda Sect were hurt during religious discourse of Nandgarh.

Gyani Gurbachan Singh extending support to Nandgarh, said that he had never uttered anything wrong but whatever he had said was right as per the Sikh religious rituals and community always stands with him.

This is not first time wherein such situation occurred for the Sikh Community as well for Jatehdar Akal Takht, as earlier in 1980 Jathedar Akal Takht Amritsar Gurdial Singh Ajnoha was summoned in the court but he didn’t appeared in the court of law keeping in view the respect of highest Sikh temporal seat, and at last complainant himself had withdrawn his complaint and case was dismissed. 

 Second time, once Bhai Ranjit Singh Jatehdar of Akal Takht was also asked to appear in the court when he had come out from bars after spending 14 years for assassinating the chief of Narnkari Sect Baba Gurbachan Singh, but when final Session Court verdict was pronounced, he was asked to face eight months more jail, but Bhai Ranjit Singh had out rightly rejected the court order by saying he would neither appear in the court nor surrender to go jail. Then Chief minister of Punjab himself Parkash Singh Badal, alongwith other Akali stalwarts including Surjit Singh Barnala, then SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Torha met the then Prime minister I.K. Gujral who took up  the case before president whereupon his rest of the sentence was condoned. Ranjit Singh on April 24, 1980, had shot dead the then head of the Mission Baba Gurbachan Singh.

Third time, Gyani Kewal Singh Jatehdar of Takht Damdama Sahib Predecessor of Nandgarh was booked in murder case of her daughter-in-law was also slapped murder case and asked to appear in the court. At That time Kewal Singh appeared in the court and faced trial in the court but after tendering his resignation from post of Jatehdar. But later he was acquitted by the court of law.
src.http://punjabnewsline.com/

Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi's Annual Prize Distribution on April 13

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi will organise its annual prize distribution function at Haryana Niwas on April 13, 2011.

While stating this here Thursday, C.R. Moudgil, Director of the Akademi said that Sardar Harmohinder Singh Chattha, Minister for Cooperation and Food and Supplies would be the chief guest in the function and Dr K.K. Khandelwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department would preside over the function.

Shiv Raman Gaur, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Director, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department, Haryana would be special guest in the function, he added.

He said that outstanding writers of the year 2010 would be honoured in this function. Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Puraskar would be conferred upon Master Amrik Singh of Sirsa and Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Puraskar upon Arkamal Kaur of Faridabad. Baba Shaikh Farid Puraskar would be conferred upon Dr Jiwan Bakshi of Kurukshetra and Sant Taran Singh Vehami Puraskar upon Gurbaksh Singh Saini of Panchkula. Ramesh Singh Anmol of Ambala would be honoured with Lok Gayak Puraskar and special Puraskar would be given to Dr Amarjit Singh Kang of Kurukshetra.

Book award would be given to Dr Darshan Singh of Sirsa, Indu Gupta of Faridabad, Gobind Singh Sadhaura of Yamuna Nagar, Kanwaljit Kaur Juneja of Rohtak, Joginder Kaur Agnihotri of Sirsa, Naib Singh Mander of Fatehabad, Dr Mukhtiyar Singh of Ambala and Veer Singh Thind of Fatehabad whereas story award would be given to Manjeet Kaur Ambalwi of Ambala Cantt., Iqbal Singh of Fatehabad and Prem Singh Barnalwi of Ambala, he added.