The Yuba City Tierra Buena Sikh Gurdwara reopened Monday afternoon, three days after a judge ordered for its closure in the midst of tensions caused by a power struggle within Gurdwara leadership.
Judge Brian Aronson issued an order Jan. 1 to disperse from the Gurdwara grounds at the request of temple attorney Michael Barrette. He argued the closure was necessary to prevent the loss of property and the danger to human life inherent in struggles of control of the property, court documents say.
The Sutter County Sheriff’s Department was called to the scene multiple times, but observed only verbal disputes and no physical violence, Sheriff J. Paul Parker said Monday.
Aronson on Monday morning reopened the temple and placed authority over the grounds, locks and bank account into the hands of those who previously led the committee before the Dec. 25 meeting. Those in power are President Pritam Singh, Surjan S. Nakwal, Kulwant S. Johl and Parminder S. Kooner.
A hearing to determine the validity of the directors is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at the Sutter County Superior Courthouse on Second Street. A notice of the hearing says any person who claims to be a director or officer of the Gurdwara should contact Barrette.
Sukhvinder Singh, who says he was appointed as treasurer on Dec. 25, said the judge’s actions are very one-sided, and that Barrette is misleading the public.
“There was no fight going on at all,” Singh said Monday. “He had them leave the grounds. That is not fair, that is a temple. They’re taking our rights away.”
Barrette said the judge’s order confirms that Gurdwara property, while open to the public (sangat), is still private property of a corporation. A corporation can control who is allowed to remain on the property.
The orders preserve the status quo as a means of keeping the peace, Barrette said on Monday.
“I have video of yelling, confrontation, people pushing people. The temple does not have to wait until somebody gets hurt to protect property and people on the property,” Barrette said.
This is the most recent episode of a years-long struggle over power of the board of directors of the nonprofit religious corporation.
A civil suit was brought in 2013 by members who claimed the democratic process at the temple was threatened by board members who voted to extend term limits without a meeting of the members.
Members attempted to hold a meeting in May 2013 to vote on the board’s actions to extend term limits from four to six years. Although more than 1,300 people attended the highly secured location, according to Barrette, a quorum was not achieved.
In October, Aronson upheld his order that the temple conduct a special meeting of the members by Feb. 29, 2016.
Barrette said that meeting has not yet been scheduled.