Sacrilege probe panel raps SGPC for ‘non-cooperation
The Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission, set up to probe cases of sacrilege, today made scathing observations after SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar didn’t appear before it.
SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar failed to appear before the Congress government-appointed commission on Monday. The SGPC has already rejected the panel, claiming that it is supreme body managing Sikh religious affairs and thus can’t be summoned by a commission.
“The SGPC was expected to willingly come forward to help and assist the commission trace the culprits committing sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji… Those raising objections seem to have no concern to unearth the acts of sacrilege,” the commission said in its order.
The commission had summoned Badungar or his representative after a series of communications for discussing preventive measures and providing copies of the resolution granting pardon (later revoked) to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Justice Ranjit Singh said the SGPC was summoned when no one responded to its request for a meeting to elicit suggestions. “It is a well-known fact that the SGPC is regularly being sued and is suing parties in the courts of law. Can it claim immunity from appearing? It could easily have detailed a representative to suggest measures, even if it had any inhibition to produce the summoned record.”
Fixing October 17 for recording statements of other witnesses, the panel concluded: “The commission has given a call to the public at large to come forward and assist it to complete its legal task, which is pious as well.”