AMRITSAR: In the recent changes done to Takht Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Board Nanded Act 1956, Chief Khalsa Diwan, one of the oldest Sikh institution has been deprived of having their member in Board.
The recommendations of Bhatia committee for making amendments to Nanded Act 1956 have also reduced the representation of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
In a statement, CKD President S. Charanjit Singh Chadha said that they have written letters to Maharashtra Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan and Chairman of Board Dr. Vijay Satbir Singh expressing their displeasure and have also challenged Bhatia Committee’s recommendations. He also questioned as to how the Committee could undermine the significance of CKD that was established in 1902 and was a central Sikh organization of various Sinigh Sabha’s in the country.
Notably Maharashtra government had constituted a committee headed by retired Jude of Bombay High Court Justice J S Bhatia for recommending amendments in the Act. The recommendations were approved by Maharashtra government in recent past. Bhatia Committee had recommended to increase the number of members in board from 17 to 21 but it had reduced the representation of SGPC from earlier 4 to 1 member while membership right was deprived from CKD.
“CKD didn’t have much active role to play in the Board, the Committee has given thrust on giving more representation to local Sikhs in the Board while staying in touch with SGPC,” said Dr. Vijay Satbir Singh who is also Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra. He said the Maharashtra government had also reduced its representation in the Board. He said out of 21 members, nine each would be from Nanded and rest of Maharashtra respectively while one member would be of SGPC , one district collector and one representative of Maharashtra government.
Earlier there were 4 members from SGPC, four from Sachkhand Hazuri Khalsa Diwan, two Sikh Member Parliaments, one member from CKD, three elected members from the seven districts of Marathwara, one member each from Andhra Pardesh and Maharasthra besides a district collector.
Chadha said CKD member Raghujit Singh Virk who was also senior vice president of SGPC represented CKD in the Board .”May be they had confusion about him, we have 45 members of CKD from Maharashtra and have big presence there,” he said.
Dr. Vijay Satbir Singh said it would take nearly one year to complete the formalities before the amended Act was implemented.
Source: TOI