KOLKATA SIKHS DENOUNCE SGPC STAND ON SAHAJDHARIS

OUR KHABAR
December 14, 2008

High Court had asked,

"as to whether or not a person who cuts his hair and/or shaves his beard is a "Sehajdari Sikh", if he performs ceremonies according to Sikh rites, does not use tobacco or Kattha in any form, and can recite the 'mool mantra', with reference to Section 2(10-A)"

The Affidavits says, "As regards the query of this Hon'ble Court on 22.11.2008 and in the meeting it was resolved to constitute a Committee of Scholars/Legal experts and Representative of he SGPC to give an opinion based upon historical, theological and philosophical perspective.

The only query was thus, whether or not a person who cuts his hair and/or shaves his beard is a "Sehajdari Sikhwhether or not a person who cuts/trims/shaves his/her hair, beard, plucks his/her eyebrows is a "Sahajdhari Sikh" w.r.t S.2(10-A) of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

SGPC's resolution of 3rd December, 2008 was shown to the members of the Panel on 4th December, 2008 at Amritsar which answered

Hence a person cannot claim to be Sahajdhari by trimming/cutting his/her hair, beard or eye-brows in any manner.

This was in accordance with and in consonance with the recommendations of the Panel in its meeting held on 26th November, 2008 at Chandigarh.

However, SGPC going against its own Executive Committee's resolution of 3rd December and Panel's recommendations of 26 November and reiterated on 4th December, 2008 has filed absolutely contradictory Affidavit.

Once a Sahajdhari becomes a Keshadhari Sikh, he under no circumstances by cutting/trimming his/her hair, beard, eye-brows in any manner can claim to be a Sahajdhari Sikh."

This question was considered by the Expert Panel in its meeting on 26th November, 2008 and was agreed to stick to the conditions laid down by the SGPC itself in its meeting of 12 May, 1938 which clearly prohibited for a Sahajdhari to cut his hair, beard and trim or shave.

This was reiterated and confirmed by the Expert Panel on 4th December, 2008 too in the meeting held at Guru Nanak Niwas, Amritsar when the Executive's resolution of 3rd December, 2008 was countersigned by the Panel members. The said resolution signed read, Hence a person cannot claim to be a Sahajdhari by trimming/cutting his/her hair, beard or eye-brows in any manner." This was the recommendation of the Expert Panel but has been turned upside down in the affidavit which says that Once a Sahajdhari becomes a Keshadhari Sikh, he under no circumstances by cutting/trimming his/her, beard, eye-brows in any manner can claim to be a Sahajdhari Sikh."

As per the affidavit it is not at all mandatory for a Sahajdhari not to cut, trim or shave. These restrictions will apply to him only when he becomes a Keshadhari. He can remain a trimmer and clean shaven his whole life and will be a "SAHAJDHARI SIKH" as per the affidavit.

II.

In the Affidavit it has been averred in Para 4 that , "That the Executive Commee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has considered the report submitted by the Committee(Panel) in its meeting held on 3.12.2008". The fact of the matter is that the Panel had not prepared or signed any report rather had recommended verbally that the 1938 resolsution of the SGPC will form the basis for answer. It is intriguing if the report was not prepared at how this non-existent report was considered?

III.

The Expert Panel also had the occasion to go through the 1973 resolution of the General House of the SGPC wherein it was recommened to the Government of India to disfranchise Sahajdhari because this institution is virtually does not exist. Government of India concurring and accepting the demand of the SGPC disfranchised Sahajdaris by Notification No. S.O.1190(E) Dt. 8th October, 2003.

But the latest affidavit negates and nullifies SGPC's own stance and wants to bring intrusion of non-Sikhs to affairs of Sikhism. By this non Sikhs can be included as 'NON KESHADHARI SIKHS'

STATEMENT ATTACHED.