AMRITSA: The ongoing differences between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Akal Takht and the Punjab government over the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 have triggered a wider debate within the global Sikh community on the respective jurisdictions of Sikh religious institutions and the elected government in matters concerning Sikh religious affairs.The controversy has also revived discussion on the relevance and interpretation of the Nehru–Master Tara Singh Pact of 1959, with several Sikh scholars and community members questioning whether the state government can legislate on Sikh religious matters without the approval or guidance of Akal Takht .Sikh intellectual Jagdeep Singh argued that many elected representatives, including MLAs and ministers, appear to be unfamiliar with the provisions of the 1959 pact. According to him, the agreement was intended to prevent undue government interference in Sikh religious affairs.“The pact clearly provides that the government should not legislate on matters relating to Sikh religious affairs without the guidance of Akal Takht. In the case of the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, no such guidance was sought from Akal Takht, which has led to the present controversy and further confusion,” he said.Jagdeep Singh further maintained that Akal Takht , established centuries before India’s Constitution came into force, continues to hold the highest temporal authority for Sikhs.He claimed that many elected representatives lack adequate understanding of the constitutional and historical framework governing the relationship between Sikh religious institutions and the state.The latest disagreement surfaced on July 29 when the Punjab government submitted a revised draft of the proposed legislation to Akal Takht on the final day of the one-month deadline set by the Sikh temporal authority for incorporating suggested changes.However, on July 30, Akal Takht rejected the government’s revised draft, stating that it did not reflect the consensus reached during the June 29 meeting attended by Sikh legislators and ministers.The issue has also generated reactions from Sikhs living abroad.Rajbir Singh, a UK-based Sikh community representative, said that while religious institutions have an important role in safeguarding Sikh values, India functions under a constitutional framework.He said Sikh representatives in the United Kingdom had discussed the issue and felt that if Akal Takht had objections to the proposed legislation, they should ideally have been resolved through dialogue with the constitutional and political authorities.“Any differences should be settled through institutional and political engagement rather than confrontation,” he said.Baljinder Singh, a Sikh activist based in the United States, observed that Sikh organisations overseas remain divided along ideological and political lines.“There is no unanimous opinion among Sikhs abroad. Just as differences exist between the SGPC, Akal Takht and the Punjab government, similar divisions are visible among Sikh organisations overseas,” he said.Meanwhile, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, on Friday appealed to all Sikh legislators serving in the Punjab government to “listen to the voice of their conscience” and fulfill their responsibility in ensuring the implementation of the decision taken by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.He made the remarks while addressing a gathering before the Miri Piri Khalsa March departed from Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan in Faridkot for its next halt.
