Charanjit Bhullar
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, November 9
The
jathedars of three Takhts have appointed their close relatives on
various positions in the SGPC.
Sources said at least 18 relatives of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani
Gurbachan Singh and 12 of Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh
were employed in the SGPC.
Giani Gurbachan Singh has appointed his son Jaswinderpal Singh as his
personal assistant (PA). His other relatives drawing salary from the
SGPC include a brother, two nephews, two daughters, two sons-in-law and
a brother-in-law.
His daughters are working as teachers at Guru Nanak Senior Secondary
School, Amritsar, run by the SGPC.
Chak Baja Marar in Muktsar is the Jathedar’s native village. Manjit
Singh and Darshan Singh of this village are working with the SGPC.
His other six relatives too are SGPC employees. A three-star hotel of
the family is coming up in Muktsar wherein Jathedar’s sons Manjinderpal
Singh and Jaswinderpal Singh have 32 per cent share.
Giani Gurbachan Singh’s elder son is circle jathedar of the Akali Dal
and is also chairman of market committee Bariwala and daughter-in-law
Lakhbir Kaur is vice-chairman of Zila Parishad, Muktsar.
The Jathedar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. His son
Manjinderpal Singh said his brother was not working as PA to the
Jathedar, but admitted that their distant relatives were employed with
the SGPC for long.
He said the Jathedar did not make appointments. On the upcoming hotel,
he said they were only partners in the venture.
Similarly, Takht Keshgarh Jathedar Giani Mal Singh has appointed his son
Amandeep Singh as his PA, who holds the post of deputy manager in SGPC.
His second son Amarjit Singh is granthi in Darbar Sahib. He had got a
relaxation of five years in age while getting service.
Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Gurmukh Singh has appointed his brother
Himmat Singh as PA. Sources said Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal
Singh had appointed his son Gurparshad Singh as his PA. Both Giani Mal
Singh and Giani Gurmukh Singh could not be contacted. SGPC chief
secretary Harcharan Singh said no such matter was in his knowledge. SGPC
general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur said: “As
per the law, no close relative of an SGPC member or official could be
appointed in the SGPC. But the rules were relaxed during the
tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur. He alleged the appointment of relatives of
the jathedars was aimed controlling the gurdwaras.
SGPC executive committee member Karnail Singh Panjoli said by employing
their relatives on important posts, the Jathedars could not ensure
transparency.