In a significant move that promises a return to democracy within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday declared that the revision of electoral rolls for the upcoming SGPC general house elections would commence on October 21.

The announcement marks a crucial step in reestablishing the electoral process for the SGPC, which has not conducted elections since 2011. The decision aimed at ensuring that the SGPC is governed by a democratically elected body, ending the current interim arrangement with a provisional president overseeing its affairs.

Mincing no words, Mann expressed his disappointment that this prestigious Sikh organization had been manipulated by external forces, with decisions pre-scripted by the Akali leadership. He stressed the importance of ousting modern-day masands (religious leaders) through free and fair elections.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister emphasized that all decisions within the SGPC were currently dictated, decided, and delivered by the Badal family, which he viewed as detrimental to the interests of the sangat (congregation). He stated that those in positions of power within the SGPC, prioritizing personal interests, were committing a grave injustice against humanity. Mann urged the public to hold these individuals accountable for their actions.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Mann said that the process of registering new votes and revising voter lists for the eagerly anticipated SGPC elections would officially commence on October 21.

Later in the evening, Punjab Gurdwara Election Commission issued a letter to all the Deputy Commissioners asking for preparation of electoral rolls for the ensuing SGPC polls. The letter also gives the detailed programme of electoral rolls, with the final publication to be on January 16, 2024.

As per the legal requirements, elections to the SGPC, referred to as the Sikh Parliament, should occur every five years. However, the current general house was elected in 2011. The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition advocating the right to vote for ‘Sehajdhari Sikhs’, had halted the house from taking over in the interim, instructing the executive to manage SGPC affairs.

In 2016, the Supreme Court reinstated the general house and dismissed the petition advocating Sehajdhari Sikh voting rights, as a new central law had already revoked this privilege.

Although the chief commissioner had issued a notification to initiate the election process on May 25 of this year, no substantial progress had been made in this regard. Sikh organizations had been advocating for elections, but the delay persisted. Chief Commissioner Justice SS Saron had attributed the delay to the governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the UT Administrator, who were tasked with issuing directions for updating the electoral rolls for SGPC elections.

Recently, on World Democracy Day, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann organized a rally near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street, demanding the immediate conduct of SGPC elections.

The majority in the SGPC house is presently held by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Notably, the representation of Haryana in the SGPC house persists despite the Supreme Court upholding the validity of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act-2014 a year ago. A separate committee was formed under this act for Haryana gurdwaras. The possibility of holding SGPC elections in Haryana remains uncertain, and the issue may only be resolved once the Central government makes a decision. Eleven members represent Haryana.

Out of the total 191 members in the general house, 170 are elected by Sikh voters in general elections, 15 are co-opted, five are sitting (jathedars) heads of Sikh temporal seats, and one is the head granthi (priest) of the Golden Temple.

Punjab has a total of 110 constituencies, with 47 segments represented by two members each, and 30 constituencies reserved for women candidates. Due to the prolonged absence of elections over the past 12 years, nearly 28 members have expired, and two have resigned, according to SGPC officials.

Office-bearers of the SGPC, including the president, senior vice president, junior vice president, general secretary, and 11 members of the executive committee, are elected by the general house for one year, either through unanimous selection or secret ballot.