JALANDHAR: In less than 24 hours of terminating services of its highest ever paid Charter Accountant S S Kohli, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar reinstated him. It is learnt that Makkar was rebuked by SAD president and Sukhbir Singh Badal and the former then went to the SGPC sub office in Chandigarh and issued orders for Kohli's reinstatement.

Kohli was informed through an email by SGPC on Wednesday that in view of the decision by the SGPC executive members in their meeting on July 11 at Chandigarh the SGPC president had ordered termination of his services. However on Thursday Makkar reached SGPC sub office Chandigarh when Kohli was already there and issued the order for his reinstatement.

Sources said that even as the communique issued by SGPC secretary on Wednesday mentioned that termination was being affected in view of the decision by the executive, Makkar on Thursday put an embargo on the execution on the decision of the executive and his ordered mentioned that the communique about terminating Kohli's services was being withdrawn for the sake of approval from the SGPC executive. Makkar could not be available for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him.

Well placed sources in SGPC revealed that president could not overturn the decision of the executive alone and the communique of Wednesday issued by the SGPC secretary had already said that decision was taken by the SGPC executive unanimously.

On July 11 meeting SGPC executive members had vented out their ire against Kohli and the members wanted his immediate sacking but SGPC senior vice president Raghujit Singh Virk, who is also considered to be the only leader from Haryana who calls shots in SGPC, asked to first take Sukhbir Badal's consent.

Makkar had told TOI after the meeting on July 11 that that the issue was discussed and the most of the executive members wanted to terminate the services of the CA.

According to SGPC sources entire process of re-engaging CA S S Kohli, after his first appointment was ended in October 2009 following a judicial challenge, was completed in a month and during re-appointment his remuneration, which was earlier over Rs three lakhs per month, totalled around Rs one crores after his appointment again.

Reacting to the development Dal Khalsa has asserted that by reinstating the controversial Chartered Accountant S S Kohli within 24 hours of his sacking by the SGPC, the deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had proved that "he is above the SGPC". Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said with this single act, Sukhbir had proved that for him the premier institution of the Sikhs (SGPC) is a non-entity. "If SGPC head Jathedar Avtar Singh Makhar has even an iota of self dignity, he should submit his resignation forthwith," he added.