Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: In a petition challenging the order of Revenue Secretary whereby tenure of existing Gurdwara Prabandhak Committees was extended by three months in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, High Court has granted last and final opportunity to Senior AAG SS Nanda to file affidavit regarding the authority presently running the affairs of the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committees and the timeline for completion of the elections.
The order has been passed in a petition filed by Satinder Singh and Joginder Singh, who are aggrieved of the notification issued by the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department dated 13th of July, 2020, in terms whereof, the Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 63-C of the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowments Rules, 1975 and in suppression of all previous notifications issued on the subject, directed that the members of District Gurdawara Prabandhak Committees of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Srinagar and Jammu, elected in the year 2015, shall continue as the members for a period of three (03) months from the date their term has expired or till elections of these committees are held.
The petitioners submitted that there is no scope for the Government for extending the period of committees in term of Rule 63-C and the notification was contrary to Rule 63-C of rules, therefore illegal and unconstitutional.
After hearing the petitioners in person, Justice Sindhu Sharma granted last and final opportunity to Senior AAG SS Nanda to file affidavit regarding the authority presently running the affairs of the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committees and the timeline for completion of the elections.
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