Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Saturday criticized the move by the panj pyare of Takht Patna Sahib to declare Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct), saying it was beyond their jurisdiction and could cause unnecessary discord in the Sikh community.
“Such actions create confusion within the Panth (Sikh community),” Dhami said, speaking to the media in Amritsar. He expressed concern over the decision, stressing that the customs and protocols of the Khalsa Panth are meant to resolve issues constructively—not create new ones.
The controversy erupted just hours after the panj pyare at Takht Patna Sahib, one of the five Takhts (seats of temporal authority in Sikhism), passed the tankhaiya order against Sukhbir Singh Badal for allegedly ignoring their summons on two occasions.
Harjinder Singh Dhami strongly objected to this move, stating, “Undermining the supremacy of Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme temporal seat of the faith, is inappropriate, and such actions could lead to discord within the Sikh community.”
The SGPC chief urged Sikh institutions and authorities to uphold the unity and sanctity of Sikh traditions by respecting the hierarchical structure led by the Akal Takht, which traditionally holds the highest authority on matters of religious discipline within Sikhism.
The episode has sparked renewed debate within Sikh circles over the roles and jurisdictions of different Takhts and their function in addressing grievances and maintaining discipline among members of the faith.