Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee supporters clashed with the police in Kurukshetra on Wednesday
The Supreme Court has stepped in to defuse a political fight for the control of gurudwaras between Punjab and Haryana, which had taken a violent turn yesterday in Kurukshetra. Ordering status quo, which keeps the all-powerful Punjab Sikh body in control of Haryana's gurudwaras, the court said, "Time is the healer. All of you proceed with a cool head."
The court was hearing a petition that questioned the constitutional validity of a Haryana government law setting up its own Sikh body to take over the running of around 50 shrines in the state.
All Sikh shrines in India are under the control of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee, or SGPC. The cash-rich Amritsar-based body has been the ultimate authority for gurudwara management for decades.
The petitioner, a member of SGPC -- which is controlled by NDA ally Akali Dal -- claims Haryana can bring such an act only after Central approval.
Appearing on behalf of the Centre, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the Centre had asked the Haryana government to withdraw the Act, "But it had declined, saying it had the competence to enact such a law. That is wrong".
The court has asked the Haryana government to explain whether it had the competence to bring the law. Meanwhile, both Sikh bodies were to open separate bank accounts and deposit the collections from the shrines.
In view of yesterday's violence in Kurukshetra, the court has also asked the Haryana government to maintain law and order.
Supporters of the newly-formed Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee had clashed with the police after they tried to forcibly enter Haryana's chief shrine 'Chhevin Patshahi', which is under the control of an SGPC task force.
Akali legislator Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is holding fort at the gurudwara, hailed the court's order for status quo.
"The SGPC was always correct and our stand has been vindicated today, The Hooda government's attempt to divide Sikhs for political gains has been defeated," she said.
The court will take up the case next on August 25.