The Haryana government has approved changes to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014 to make the management of Sikh gurdwaras in the state more transparent, fair, and legally strong. The cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, passed the amendments on Friday in a meeting held in Chandigarh.
One of the most important changes is the removal of Section 17(2)(c) from the Act. This section earlier allowed the Gurdwara Committee to remove its own members. Now, this power will go to a newly formed Judicial Commission under Section 46 of the amended law. According to government officials, this step is aimed at reducing internal politics and bringing in judicial oversight for fair decisions.
The amendments give a major role to a new Judicial Commission. It will now be the authority to solve many types of issues related to gurdwaras. These include disputes about voter eligibility for gurdwara elections, removal of committee members, service issues of gurdwara staff, and disagreements over the appointment of committee members.
Earlier, the Gurdwara Committee handled many of these matters internally. But now, only the Judicial Commission will have the right to decide. This change, officials say, will reduce conflicts and make the entire process more fair and neutral. If anyone is unhappy with a decision made by the commission, they can file an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court within 90 days.
Section 46 has also been updated. It now allows the commission to look into issues such as misuse of gurdwara property or funds, internal fights within committees, and misconduct by committee members. The commission can take action on its own, even if no one files a complaint. It can also suspend or remove committee members if they are found guilty of misconduct.
The commission has been given the power to issue temporary orders (injunctions) to protect gurdwara assets if needed. It can act quickly in urgent matters to stop damage or misuse of funds and property.
A new system has been introduced to classify gurdwaras into three types:
Schedule I – Historical Gurdwaras
Schedule II – Notified Gurdwaras with income of ₹20 lakh or more per year
Schedule III – Local Gurdwaras
Anyone who wants a gurdwara to be officially declared as a Sikh gurdwara must submit a petition. The petition must be signed by at least 100 adult Sikhs who regularly visit that gurdwara.
To support these changes, new sections have been added to the law (from Section 46-A to 46-N). These give the commission powers similar to those of a civil court. For example, it can call witnesses, demand documents, and pass legally binding orders. These orders will have the same power as court decisions.
Also, the commission’s members will be considered public servants. They will be protected under the law if they act in good faith while performing their duties. This protection has been added through Section 46-D of the amended Act.
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The government says these changes are meant to make the management of Sikh gurdwaras more organized and trustworthy. An official spokesperson explained that the goal is to “establish a transparent, efficient, and legally robust framework” for all matters related to gurdwaras in Haryana.
The amendments are expected to reduce internal disputes, prevent misuse of funds, and ensure that decisions are taken fairly through proper legal channels. It also assures the Sikh community that their places of worship will be managed with more care and accountability.
In simple terms, the Haryana government is putting in place a new legal system that takes away power from political committees and gives it to a neutral Judicial Commission. This will make gurdwara management more transparent and help protect religious properties better in the long run.
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