Latest news with #SikhGurdwarasAct
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Centre initiated SGPC poll process, HC put stay on electoral roll preparation: Lok Sabha informed
The Centre had initiated the process to conduct the elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), but the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a stay on the preparation of electoral rolls, the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday. 'The Government has commenced the election process. This was done after notification of Rules for appointment of Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections, and resolution in related matters in several court cases filed by different petitioners,' Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed in response to a written question by Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa. 'In the meanwhile, several cases have been filed in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana challenging the preparation of electoral rolls and other related issues. The High Court has ordered a stay in the matter,' the minister said. Randhawa had asked whether the government has fixed any timeline for the conduct of elections to the SGPC in Punjab and if so, the details thereof, including the date of notification; the designated authority responsible for conducting the elections and the proposed schedule for completion of the electoral process. He had also asked whether any date has been fixed and the reasons for the inordinate delay in holding SGPC elections, particularly in light of the fact that the last such elections were held in 2011. He further asked whether the Government proposes any legislative or administrative measures to ensure regular and timely elections to the SGPC, in keeping with democratic principles and the religious rights of the Sikh community. The MoS, in his reply, said that the Sikh Gurdwaras Board Election Rules, 1959, provides that the Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections shall by notification fix the date or dates for the various stages of elections to the SGPC Board, including the date on which polling shall be held. 'The Gurdwara Election Commission headed by Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections is the designated authority for the conduct of elections. The Government has commenced the election process. This was done after notification of Rules for appointment of Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections, and resolution in related matters in several court cases filed by different petitioners,' he said. The Gurdwara Election Commission, headed by the chief commissioner, gurdwara elections, is the designated authority for the conduct of elections, he said. Accordingly, the government has appointed a chief commissioner who issued notifications to the state governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh as well as the administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections. The notifications asked them to start preparing electoral rolls for elections for the constitution of new SGPC board in accordance with Section 48 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925. However, the process has been stalled due to the high court stay, the minister added.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Govt begins election process for SGPC board: minister
Agency: New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) The government has begun the process of elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday. Several cases have been filed in the Punjab and Haryana high court challenging the preparation of electoral rolls and other related issues on which the court has ordered a stay, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai added in response to a written question. 'The Government has commenced the election process. This was done after notification of Rules for appointment of Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections, and resolution in related matters in several court cases filed by different petitioners," he said. The Sikh Gurdwaras Board Election Rules, 1959, provides that the chief commissioner shall by notification fix the date or dates for the various stages of elections to the SGPC Board, including the date on which polling shall be held, he said. The Gurdwara Election Commission, headed by the chief commissioner, gurdwara elections, is the designated authority for the conduct of elections, he said. Accordingly, the government has appointed a chief commissioner who issued notifications to the state governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh as well as the administrator of the union territory of Chandigarh and commissioner, gurdwara elections. The notifications asked them to start preparing electoral rolls for elections for the constitution of new SGPC board in accordance with Section 48 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925. PTI ABS ABS MIN MIN (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 19, 2025, 15:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Send Punjab plea on bills to 5-judge bench: Govt urges SC
NEW DELHI: The Centre has requested the Supreme Court to refer a petition filed by the Punjab govt seeking the court's intervention in two bills - one amending the Sikh Gurdwaras Act and the other Punjab Police Act - to the five-judge bench which is scheduled to hear Presidential Reference on SC's jurisdiction to fix timelines for the President and governors in granting, refusing or withholding assent to bills. For the Centre, advocate Kanu Agrawal requested a bench led by CJI B R Gavai to either tag the Punjab petition with the Presidential Reference or keep it pending for adjudication after the five-judge bench gives its opinion on the 14 questions raised by President Droupadi Murmu in her reference under Article 143 following SC's Apr 8 judgment. The bench posted the Centre's application for hearing on Monday. The Punjab govt had complained that the bills passed by the assembly two years back - The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - have been kept in limbo by the President after the governor arbitrarily referred these to her. The state challenged "the governor's referral of the two bills to the President of India for her consideration in contravention to the aid and advice of the council of ministers in the absence of any constitutional trigger or any extraordinary breakdown of democratic governance." It also challenged "the President's inaction on both the bills" and said as per the Apr 8 judgment, she has to provide reasons for refusing assent or withholding assent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo The Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, mandates the board constituted under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, to propagate teachings of the Gurus by making uninterrupted live feed of the holy Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib available to all media houses, platforms, channels etc. free of cost, and restrains anyone broadcasting the Holy Gurbani from telecasting any advertisement 30 minutes prior to and after the broadcast. The Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to amend the Punjab Police Act, 2007, to create an independent mechanism for selection and appointment of suitable persons to the post of Director General of Police (DGP). The state said the amendment would free the selection from political or executive interference, while keeping in view the peculiar conditions in Punjab.
