Sikh institutions at odds as Akal Takht, Patna Sahib exchange jabs, Sukhbir Badal in the mix

Indian Express

24-05-2025

IN A surprise move at a special meeting on Wednesday, the five top priests of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib – one of the five Takhts or seats of Sikh temporal power in the country – declared two of its jathedars or head priests 'tankhaiya', or guilty of religious misconduct.
The two included Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the recently appointed acting jathedar of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, the highest Sikh temporal seat, and Giani Tek Singh Dhanaula, who heads the Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda. 'Giani Gargaj and Tek Singh challenged the constitution (of the Takht Patna Sahib), interfered with the powers of the local management, and issued an edict against the decisions of Takht Patna Sahib,' said a statement from the Takht Patna Sahib.
Just hours earlier, the Jathedars of the Akal Takht, Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, the three Punjab-based takhts, had lifted the ban on the excommunicated ex-Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gohar and imposed bans on a sitting jathedar of the Takht Patna Sahib, Giani Baldev Singh, and another Patna Sahib priest, Gurdial Singh. When this met with opposition by the Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the Akal Takht said that Section 79 of Patna Sahib's Constitution and Bylaws gave it the power to decide on religious matters and that its decision was final.
Gohar had been removed as the Patna Sahib Jathedar in August 2022 by the Akal Takht after allegations of embezzlement. However, an internal investigation cleared Gohar, resulting in the lifting of the ban against him by the Akal Takht.
As regards Baldev Singh, the Akal Takht said he lacked 'the required skills' to carry out his duties as a priest, including reciting Gurbani, or sacred hymns and texts. The Akal Takht had asked Baldev Singh to 'prove' his skills through video recordings, but the jathedar refused. In a statement, the Akal Takht said this was among several of its directives ignored by the Patna Sahib leadership in recent years.
In its counter-order, the Takht Sri Patna Sahib also summoned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal for allegedly interfering in its functioning. In the past, it has accused the BJP of similar 'interference'. 'Information has come to us that Sukhbir Singh Badal played a role in this interference. He has been asked to present his side,' the statement said, adding that it directed Badal to appear before it within 10 days.
The developments come against the backdrop of a series of embezzlement accusations between the current and former Patna Sahib jathedars, Baldev Singh and Gohar, respectively – and have now sparked a conflict between the Akal Takht and the Patna Sahib over their overlapping powers.
This has come at an inopportune time for Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh, who has been trying to stamp his authority as the head of the highest Sikh seat of power, in the face of factionalism within Sikh institutions and allegations of political influence being behind his appointment.
Kuldeep Singh was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body for gurdwara management in Punjab, though the Damdami Taksal, an influential socio-religious organisation formerly aligned with the SAD, had opposed it.
This isn't the first clash between the Akal Takht and Patna Sahib. In 2008, the then Patna Sahib jathedar, Giani Iqbal Singh, had claimed the Patna Sahib's supremacy over the Akal Takht and excommunicated then Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Iqbal Singh was later found guilty of religious misconduct.
So far, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has not taken a side in the current dispute, though he expressed concern over the wrong message being sent to the Sikh community in the clash between the Akal Takht and Patna Sahib. The Patna shrine is, incidentally, partly administered by a department of the Bihar government.
Dhami said matters concerning Panthic institutions and issues must be dealt with seriousness and maturity, and that mutual dialogue is the best path forward. 'The entire Sikh world looks up to these institutions and Takhts for inspiration, but the current atmosphere of internal conflict is creating confusion within the community,' he said, adding that as a leader and member of the Sikh community, he will make efforts – both formal and personal – for a prompt resolution.
As far as Badal goes, the summons issued by the Patna Sahib is unlikely to damage him politically, even if the SAD chief is vulnerable politically and has been trying to dispel allegations of 'interference' in Sikh institutions for political gain.
Last year, owing to alleged religious misconduct during the SAD's tenure in power in Punjab from 2007 and 2017, Badal had been declared tankhaiya and sentenced to religious punishment by the Akal Takht, then led by jathedar Harpeet Singh. In fact, Gohar had come to Badal's defence during this episode and criticised Harpreet Singh's decision.