The management of key Sikh institutions like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Akal Takht Sahib is currently in disarray. Internal conflicts have escalated over time, creating a chaotic situation. Historically, the Indian state has used SGPC elections as a means to exert control over Sikh leadership. Since the Partition of 1947, these elections have rarely been held on time. When conducted, they were often used to install pro-state leadership or to reassert the authority of co-opted figures.
According to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925, SGPC elections are mandated every five years. However, the last elections were held in 2011—more than 14 years ago. Today, the Indian state appears to be using the delay and manipulation of SGPC elections to deepen internal divisions among Sikhs and further fragment Sikh leadership, rendering it ineffective.
This ongoing situation has significantly eroded not only the current leadership of the SGPC but the credibility of the institution itself.
A recent example of this institutional crisis is the case of Giani Raghbir Singh, the Head Granthi of Sri Darbar Sahib (Amritsar), who filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an injunction against the SGPC, fearing dismissal from his post. His legal action caused considerable concern, as it is highly unusual for someone holding such a senior religious position to appeal to Indian courts against a Sikh religious body. Although Giani Raghbir Singh has since withdrawn his petition, the question remains: why did such a situation arise in the first place?
To explore the root causes of this ongoing crisis, journalist Mandeep Singh spoke with Bhai Sukhdeep Singh Meekay of the Panth Sewak Jatha Doaba.
![Left to Right: Jagtar Singh Johal, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam [USCIRF Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners] | File Photos](https://sikhsiyasatnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Jagtar-Singh-Johal-Umar-Khalid-and-Sharjeel-Imam-USCIRF-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-FoRB-prisoners.jpg)
