Amritsar, Feb 26: The SGPC has announced the compulsory retirement of Giani Raghbir Singh, the Head Granthi of Darbar Sahib, effective immediately. This administrative shift occurred on Thursday following a period of public disagreement between the religious official and the leadership of the Sikh body.
According to senior officials, the special meeting was called specifically to address Giani Raghbir Singh’s recent public statements regarding alleged financial irregularities. President Harjinder Singh Dhami noted that the executive took the step after the Head Granthi did not submit a formal written report to back his assertions of corruption within the SGPC and SAD.
In response to the order, Giani Raghbir Singh maintained that the action was a direct consequence of his past judicial decisions at the Akal Takht. He stated that the seeds of the face-off were sown when he delivered a verdict against the SAD core committee on December 22, 2024. He asserted that the punishment he awarded for religious misconduct by political leaders had created a rift with the current administration.
The dispute intensified earlier this month when the SGPC demanded a clarification on the Head Granthi’s remarks concerning land deals. While Giani Raghbir Singh had asked for a reply to his own allegations, the SGPC executive declared that the integrity of the institution required a change in leadership.
The SGPC leadership maintained that the decision followed a fair opportunity for the official to present his case. The committee stated that the focus remains on ensuring the smooth functioning of religious services at the Darbar sahib following this high-level change.
