Sikh News

Badal seeks BJP led central govt’s intervention in row related to voting rights of “Sehajdhari” Sikhs

June 20, 2014 | By Parmjeet Singh

New Delhi, India (June 19, 2014): As per information a delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) MPs led by its Chief Patron and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal yesterday (on June 19) submitted two separate memorandums one on Sehajdari issue and another for urging the Indian government to stop the Haryana government with its move to interfere in the religious affairs of the Sikhs through its deliberate attempt to set up a religious body to manage Sikh shrines in the state.

According to media reports the Badal Dal delegation asked the India government to enact the notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the Sehajdaris issue into the legislation for providing procedural correction to remove the technical infirmities in the GoI’s directive.

The delegation apprised the Indian Minister that through an Amendment in Sikh Gurudwara Act in 1944, the Sehajdharis were given a right to vote. However, on November 30, 2000, March 30, 2001 and again on March 30, 2002 the General House of SGPC had passed a resolution to delete the exception given to the Sehajdharis which was followed by resolution of Executive Committee of the SGPC on March 7, 2002.

Likewise, the delegation said that the then NDA-I Government had issued a notification on October 8, 2003 deleting the exception given to the Sehajdharis to vote. But this notification was set aside by the High Court on December 20, 2011 on the ground that such an amendment could not be brought about by a notification. But, it specifically upheld the right of the legislature to lay down the eligibility conditions for the voters to include or exclude a class or category, added the delegation.

The delegation urged the Home Minister that the Parliament should amend the relevant provisions of the Sikh Gurudwara Act 1925 to bring about the same result that the notification did. The delegation urged that to ensure the continuity of the Board, the amendment be specifically made applicable retrospectively from October 8, 2003, the date of the earlier notification.

“All that is required is a procedural correction in giving this notification legislative sanction and form by incorporating it into the Sikh Gurdwara Act through a parliamentary amendment, added the delegation.

The delegation comprised of Rajya Sabha MPs Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral, Lok Sabha MPs Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Sher Singh Ghubaya.

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Related Topics: Parkash Singh Badal, Sehajdhari Issue, SGPC

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