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SGPC dismissed four out of Panj Piaras, forcibly retired the firth one
However, on the same day, that is October 21, SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar had suspended all the Panj Pairas for summoning the five Sikh head priests at Akal Takht. After Giani Gurchan Singh and other jatehdars had failed to appear before the Panj Pyare, the Panj Pyare had directed the SGPC to release Giani Gurbachan Singh and other persons from their services as “Jathedars”.
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He also clarified that Bhai Major Singh of the five has already been made to retire from his services, which is why the SGPC’s executives have only announced a suspension of only four of the Pyare.
In a move likely to aggravate the religious crisis in the Sikh community, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday dismissed four of the “Panj Piaras”(five chosen ones of the Gurus) from their posts.
The decision comes ahead of the deadline set by the Panj Pyaras for the dismissal of the Jathedars (head priests) of Akal Tahkt, Tahkt Keshgarh Sahib and Tahkt Damdama Sahib.
Makkar said that these Panj Piaras have hatched deep rooted conspiracy to extend damage to the Supreme Authority of Sikhs Akal Takht.
In a written statement issued to the media, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar described all the Panj Piaras as “paid employees” and said the four employees were dismissed for “grossly violating” the service rules as well as Sikh religious norms and tenets. He said that the dismissal was necessary as if they hadn’t taken this step Panj Pyare of other Takhts might also do the same in future. Their work was to do “dharam prachar” (spreading religion). However, later on, after a few days and bowing before the pressure from the Sikh community, SGPC had without any condition revoked the suspension of the Panj Piaras.
The SGPC, with an annual budget of almost Rs.1,000 crore, manages the Sikh shrines in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, including the holiest of Sikh shrines Harmandar Sahib or the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
When two of them were transferred out, they refused to join the new posting. The decision to grant pardon to dera Sauda chief was rejected by the Sikh panth and even the Jathedars later withdraw their decision to pardon dera chief.
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On October 21, one of the Panj Piaras, Bhai Satnam Singh, had said that the decision to pardon the Dera chief was taken by the Jathedars without consulting any of the Sikh groups and intellectuals or taking them into confidence.