AMRITSAR: The removal of jathedar (chief) of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh by the SGPC on Friday has again brought to the fore the issue of religious independence of Sikh clerics, who take all religious decisions to be followed by the sangat worldwide.Sacking of takht jathedars by the SGPC is not new. To avoid the clash of interests or any misunderstanding between the Sikh clergy and the SGPC, former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti had directed the SGPC in 2000 to frame rules for the appointment of jathedars, their jurisdiction and removal to avoid any unsavoury condition.In 2015, the SGPC got into action to give an independent status to the jathedars and sought suggestions and opinions from the Sikh intellectuals, religious bodies and individuals to form norms for the appointment, removal and retirement age of the clerics. On January 21, 2015, the SGPC also constituted a committee, including former vice-chancellor of Punjabi University , Patiala, Jaspal Singh, Prof Balwant Singh Dhillon of Guru Nanak Dev University and Prof Balkar Singh, Patiala.On the sacking of jathedars, Prof Dhillon opined there should be a check and balance system. "Jathedars should be given freedom but at the same time the SGPC should keep a check on them," he said.Sikh intellectual Pritpal Singh said every effort should be made to ensure that no cleric was under any political pressure while taking decisions on religious issues. Another Sikh intellectual and professor in GNDU Kuldeep Singh said, "Saying that the SGPC is an autonomous body is a myth.The Akali Dal virtually has direct control on it. Whatever little autonomy the SGPC had in the old times had been eroded in a big way in the recent years."

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