The government directs banks to halt gurdwara panel transactions

The Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (HSGMC) maintains bank accounts, and the state government has requested that all financial activities, including withdrawals, related to these accounts be halted until further notice.

In a letter dated April 6, the zonal and regional heads of different banks were informed that the government had received a submission about the claims that the executive committee members of the HSGMC could have committed financial irregularities. The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission will hear the issue since it involves a disagreement between committee members.

In addition, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has placed the issue under suspension and ordered a halt to the committee’s March 28 election of executive committee office bearers.

Such withdrawals may bring legal issues and may even be considered disrespectful, given the concerns stated after the aforementioned actions about theft and the removal of funds from the HSGMC’s accounts.

All pertinent branches have been requested by the banks to send out instructions stating that until further instructions are received, no financial transactions pertaining to the accounts of the HSGMC should be permitted across the state. In the meanwhile, a group of Sikh community representatives met with Gurdwara Election Commissioner HS Bhalla today and presented a document requesting HSGMC elections to take place shortly after the Lok Sabha polls.