Haryana's Governor-designate Kaptan Singh Solanki on Sunday indicated at reviewing the assent given to the controversial Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act 2014 to create a separate Gurdwara Management Committee. However, on the same day, Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi, who spearheaded the movement for the formation of separate SGPC for Haryana, were elected as the president and the senior vice-president respectively of the newly notified 41-member ad hoc Haryana SGPC.
While Solanki said the State Government is bound to obey the Central Government's directives, legal experts have questioned it.Senior advocate HS Phoolka said, "The new Governor cannot withdraw the Assent (given by his predecessor). Now only two remedy is left; one is that the Haryana Assembly repeal or amend the Act, and the other remedy is through the High Court or the Supreme Court."
The Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) had asked the Haryana Government to revoke Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act 2014, but the Haryana Government has rejected the MHA directive while asking it to immediately withdraw the letter seeking annulment of the Act.Punjab has strongly objected to the new Act terming it "unconstitutional" and "illegal" and sought Centre's intervention, saying a separate SGPC is in contravention of the Central Gurdwara Act of 1925.
Solanki said he would look into all aspects before taking a decision on the Centre's directive. "Under the circumstances, if the Central Government says something, I think, it is my personal opinion, that it must be obeyed," Solanki said. Incidentally, the Act has the seal of assent from outgoing Governor Jagannath Pahadia.
Solanki is a BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh. Pahadia's tenure ends on Saturday."If the matter comes before me, I will go through all the facts as per the Constitution. I will ensure that there is no political interference in this matter. If there is need for the second opinion that will be sought," Solanki said.