Sikh Management Bodies Clash in Court Over Medical Institute Control
A violent power struggle between the country's two largest Sikh management bodies has escalated into a legal battle, with police formally charging 20 senior religious leaders and political workers over an alleged assault at a prominent medical institute. The dispute centers on the Miri Piri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MPIMSR) in Shahabad, Kurukshetra, and has exposed deep jurisdictional tensions within the Sikh community.
Police Register FIR Against High-Ranking Officials
On March 28, Kurukshetra police registered a first-information report (FIR) naming high-ranking officials from both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras Management Committee (HSGMC). The charges are severe and include criminal intimidation, rioting, and acts intended to outrage religious feelings. This legal action follows a March 20 confrontation where HSGMC vice-president Gurbir Singh Talakaur alleges he was attacked by armed men who forcibly removed his turban—a grave insult in the Sikh faith that has heightened community tensions.
A Battle for Control Over MPIMSR
The MPIMSR has become the frontline of a broader jurisdictional war between the SGPC and HSGMC. While the SGPC currently manages the college, the HSGMC—backed by a recent Supreme Court-upheld law in Haryana—claims it should take possession of all such institutions within the state. The March 20 standoff unfolded in dramatic stages, involving incursion, counter-strike, and police intervention.
HSGMC leaders, led by Baljit Singh Daduwal, entered the college office to address protesting employees and later claimed to the media they had taken "possession" of the institute. In response, SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk arrived with supporters and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers to block the takeover. Video footage from the scene shows deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ram Kumar warning the HSGMC group that the college's fate must be decided "lawfully through the Haryana government," eventually using force to clear the premises.
Legal Limbo and Community Tensions
The SGPC, which operates the college, has strongly criticized the police action. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami argued that the HSGMC group was trespassing in violation of a high court stay order. "Instead of taking action against those attempting a forcible takeover, the police have targeted our representatives," Dhami stated. Authorities confirmed that a second complaint filed by the college's CEO—alleging illegal trespass by the HSGMC group—is pending a legal opinion, leaving the situation in a state of legal limbo.
Tensions remain high in Shahabad, with Sikh community groups arriving daily at the campus to stand guard or offer support to the incumbent SGPC management. The ongoing dispute underscores the complex interplay of religious authority, legal frameworks, and political influence in managing Sikh institutions.
