SGPC smells scam in recruitments during Badungar’s second tenure

SAYS IT WILL START PROCESS OF REMOVING AROUND 500 EMPLOYEES RECRUITED IN ‘VIOLATION’ OF APEX COURT RULES AND REGULATIONS

AMRITSAR: Smelling a scam in the recruitment of employees during the tenure of Kirpal Singh Badungar as president, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has reportedly decided to start the process of removing as many as 500 employees recruited during his tenure allegedly in violation of rules.

Badungar was president of the SGPC from November 5, 2016 to November 29, 2017 during his second term. As Gobind Singh Longowal took over reins of the SGPC, there was strong demand of setting up an inquiry into the recruitments made during Badungar’s tenure.

Considering the demand, the new executive panel of the SGPC had constituted a four-member sub-committee.

The committee comprises senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, junior vice-president Harpal Singh Jalla, executive member Sajjan Singh Bajjuman and member Baldev Singh. SGPC secretary Manjit Singh was assigned the job of a coordinator.

The sub-committee submitted its report to the executive committee during its meeting on Wednesday held at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and presided over by Longowal.

The executive panel unanimously accepted the report and approved to go for further action.

The sub-committee has found out that these employees were recruited in violation of rules and regulations.

SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi has confirmed the development.

He said that the executive panel has decided to start the process of removing the employees but the process is yet to be started. “While taking such action, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has to go through all legal points first,” said Manjit Singh.

There was also a rumour of demotion of as many as 50 officials, but no official confirmed this.

Another rumour, which is in the air, is that a few SGPC members have tendered their resignation in protest against the decision of removing the employees, but there is no confirmation in this regard. Bedi said no such resignation has been received by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee office yet.