AMRITSAR (SS Correspondent) – Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar was today appointed as the President of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).
He replaced Avtar Singh Makkar whose one-year term ended today.
Badungar’s name was proposed by the Punjab Cabinet Minister Tota Singh and seconded by former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur during the general house meeting of the SGPC here.
There was some opposition to his name by a few members who had proposed the name of Surjit Singh Kalhapura. But the matter was resolved after Kolhapura withdrew his candidature.
However, Kalhapura was included in the 11-member executive body of the SGPC.
The meeting elected Baldev Singh Kiampuri from Haryana as senior Vice President, Baba Buta Singh as Junior Vice President and Amarjit Singh Chawla as General Secretary.
Badungar was elected as president of the Sikh body for the second time. He had earlier served as the SGPC chief in 2001.
The election of the office bearers took place amidst the chanting of religious slogans ‘Bole-so-Nihal Satsri Akal‘ in the Teja Singh Samundari Hall.
There are 190 members in the General House as 170 are elected, 15 are nominated and the five Takht heads are permanent members.
Five Takht heads, who are permanent members, don’t have voting rights.