Sri Amritsar, September 18:Kanwar Partap Singh 
An emergency meeting of the five Singh Sahibans was held today at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to consider the matter concerning serious allegations levelled by a woman against Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Amarjit Singh and suspended Granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Malkit Singh. During the meeting, matters concerning two gurdwaras in New Delhi and Mumbai were also considered, in which the managements were warned to comply with earlier orders issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The meeting of the five Singh Sahibans was attended by Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Keval Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Tek Singh, Granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbakhshish Singh, and Panj Piara of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Bhai Mangal Singh.
After the meeting, the five Singh Sahibans reached the platform of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, where Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj announced to the sangat the decision of the five Singh Sahibans to expel both Amarjit Singh and Malkit Singh from the Khalsa Panth in connection with their respective cases.
Regarding the decision concerning Amarjit Singh, it was stated that he represents a Sikh institution, and allegations of this nature against him have hurt the sentiments of the Sikh sangat and brought disrepute to Sikh institutions. As per the Panth-approved Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct), a Sikh who commits any one of the four transgressions (tabooed practices) is expelled from Sikhi. Serious allegations of committing a transgression have been levelled against Amarjit Singh. Therefore, at the meeting of the five Singh Sahibans held today, it was decided that Amarjit Singh is expelled from the Khalsa Panth until he proves himself innocent in the matter and appears before Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The Sikh sangat has been ordered not to maintain any association with Amarjit Singh, and a complete ban has been imposed on him from working in Sikh institutions for life.
Regarding the allegations against Malkit Singh, the decision stated that he had been serving on a highly respected and responsible position in a Sikh institution. Although the SGPC, while taking departmental action, has suspended him from service, when a Sikh is serving in a position of responsibility, he has a great responsibility towards the community and religion to always maintain his character and morality in accordance with the Guru's wisdom. It was stated that allegations against a person holding such a responsible position become a cause of collective embarrassment for the community. Therefore, Malkit Singh has been expelled from the Khalsa Panth. All Sikh sangats have been ordered not to maintain any association with him, and a complete ban has been imposed on Malkit Singh from working in Sikh institutions for life.
During the meeting, the matter concerning the management committee of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Subhash Nagar, New Delhi, allegedly violating an order issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib was also considered. In view of repeated complaints being received from Sikh sangat in Delhi regarding the matter, the five Singh Sahibans ordered that if Gurdwara committee president Bhupinder Singh and the committee members failed to comply with the orders issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, further strict action would be taken according to Panthic traditions.
Meanwhile, the matter concerning the ongoing dispute between two groups over the management of Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar, Sector 6, Shanti Nagar, Mira Road (East), Thane, Mumbai, was also considered. The five Singh Sahibans ordered that if Gurdwara management committee president Dalbir Singh and general secretary Davinder Singh failed to comply with the orders issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, further strict action would be taken according to Panthic traditions.
Thereafter, the five Singh Sahibans reached the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, where Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj addressed the media. He said that a woman had levelled allegations against SGPC member from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Amarjit Singh, and several letters, suggestions and complaints had been received from the Sikh sangat at Sri Akal Takht Sahib regarding the matter. The matter was considered, and until Amarjit Singh proves himself innocent and appears before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he has been expelled from the Khalsa Panth. The second matter considered was that of suspended Granthi Malkit Singh, who had been accused by a woman of sending inappropriate messages. He too has been expelled from the Khalsa Panth until he proves himself innocent. A complete ban has been imposed on both of them from working in Sikh institutions.
He said that similarly, the managements of the two gurdwaras in New Delhi and Mumbai had also been strictly warned to refrain from repeatedly violating the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, failing which strict action would be taken.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that the revered Gurus had bestowed upon Sikhs very high and pure standards of character and that Sikh institutions are the very life and soul of the community. If anyone holding a position of responsibility in these institutions engages in immoral conduct or serious allegations are levelled against such a person, action will certainly be taken.
In response to a media question that the woman had complained to him, Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj clarified that he meets thousands of members of the sangat and that the woman had also met him briefly in the same manner. During the meeting, she had mentioned Giani Malkit Singh and said that he had sent some inappropriate messages. Jathedar Gargajj said that he had asked the woman to submit a written complaint regarding Malkit Singh so that action could be taken, but she did not submit any written complaint. He said that the woman had not spoken to him about Amarjit Singh or any other matter.
The Jathedar said that according to the procedure of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, action is taken forward only when a written complaint is submitted. However, considering the seriousness of the matter, he immediately, in fulfilment of his responsibility, verbally instructed the SGPC to remove Malkit Singh from duty at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. After that, he did not perform duty there. The Jathedar clarified that if the woman had told him about Amarjit Singh, he would certainly have taken strict action in the matter.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that the woman had lodged a complaint with the police and that until the matter is resolved there, Sri Akal Takht Sahib would not directly intervene in it. However, since the matter concerns an SGPC member and the incident took place at Sri Anandpur Sahib, where one of the Takhts is located, several members of the sangat had been submitting complaints seeking action against the accused. In this matter, once both individuals prove themselves innocent and present their side, the matter will be considered further.
He said that both individuals had been serving at high positions within the Khalsa Panth, and such positions have an influence on the sangat as well as carry responsibility. He said that the entire matter should be investigated impartially, no person should be unnecessarily implicated, and no injustice should be done to anyone. The allegations in the matter are very serious and the incident is connected with Takht Sahib; therefore, it was appropriate for Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take Suo Motu cognizance of the matter, which has now been done. He said that the SGPC should also conduct a high-level probe into the matter at its own level.