The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken a firm and definitive stance regarding the ongoing Punjab Police investigation into the case of 328 missing sacred saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib. In a decisive move on Tuesday, the apex Sikh body declared it would not extend any cooperation to the police administration, acting in strict accordance with directives from the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism.
SGPC's Firm Stand and Internal Action
Following a crucial meeting of its officials in Amritsar, the SGPC issued a detailed statement to clarify its position. SGPC secretary Partap Singh emphasized that the order of the Akal Takht is final for the Sikh institution. "Under it, no cooperation can be extended to the government," he stated categorically. The committee revealed that it had already taken disciplinary action against employees found guilty in this matter, based on the findings of an Akal Takht inquiry report.
The SGPC identified three employees directly involved in the misconduct: Kanwaljit Singh, Baj Singh, and Dalbir Singh. According to the secretary, these individuals, then posted in the publication department, misused offerings meant for the sacred saroops for personal gain and tampered with official records. "For the sake of their greed, they defamed the entire SGPC administration," Partap Singh said. He confirmed that apart from these three, several senior officers also faced administrative action for their negligence.
Process Violation and Denial of Diary Claims
The SGPC outlined the established, constitutionally mandated process for issuing saroops. When devotees or gurdwara committees request a saroop, an officer at the secretary level grants approval only after verifying a preacher's report and a recommendation from an SGPC member. Upon issuance, the offering is deposited, a formal receipt is issued, and a meticulous entry is made in the official ledgers. The accused employees allegedly bypassed this entire sacred protocol.
The committee also strongly refuted claims made by AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu regarding the existence of a separate diary maintained by the SGPC president for tracking saroops. The secretary labeled this allegation as "misleading" and stated it was creating confusion within the Sikh community (sangat). "There is no such provision; the propaganda being spread about any diary has no basis," he asserted. This position was supported by statements from former in-charges and joint secretaries of the publication department—Gurinder Singh, Gurnam Singh, and Manjit Singh—who confirmed that no such parallel diary system existed, with all accounting done through departmental ledgers.
Appeal to Government and Defense of Autonomy
In its concluding remarks, the SGPC defended its autonomous functioning under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act and asserted its right to take departmental action against any negligent employee as per its service rules. The institution appealed to the government to refrain from directly targeting the SGPC, arguing that there had been no laxity on its part in addressing the issue internally.
The SGPC statement also expressed concern that comments from certain political leaders, specifically from the AAP, were causing "serious damage to the traditions and dignity of the Sikh institution." By taking this principled stand, the SGPC has reinforced its operational sovereignty while attempting to close a chapter that has raised concerns among devotees regarding the management of the faith's most sacred religious texts.
