File photo of Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh
CHANDIGARH, Punjab (March 17, 2015)—The Punjab and Haryana High court today directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) to provide Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh his appointment letter which was issued in 2003 when he was appointed as Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Talwandi Sabo.
Jathedar Nandgarh was removed by SGPC on January 17 forcefully, allegedly for supporting the Nanakshahi Calendar. He later filed a petition against the SGPC challenging his removal. The petition was slated for hearing on Monday before the bench of justice AG Masih, but as lawyers abstained from work, the matter was adjourned for today.
Giani Nandgarh has sought the SGPC resolution about his sacking be quashed and his services as Jathedar be restored. He argued that since the SGPC had issued no notice to seek his version, its order passed in an executive committee meeting without any prior notice, was illegal. The order for his removal was sent to him on January 19.
In January, the High Court had refused to intervene in the tussle between Nandgarh and the SGPC over Nanakshahi Calendar. A public-interest petition to thwart the SGPC from sacking Nandgarh was dismissed, stating that no public interest was involved.