CHANDIGARH, April 28: UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Sant Parkash today directed ex-parte proceedings against Justice Kuldip Singh (retd), Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh and Justice Ranjit Singh Narula (retd), following non-submission of reply, in a civil suit filed against the “amendment of rules and regulations of the World Sikh Council”. The case will now come up for further proceedings on June 1. The other suit, challenging the appointment of Justice Kuldip Singh as the president of World Sikh Council, will also be taken up on the same date.
Earlier, Shamsher Singh Maloya, member, executive committee of the World Sikh Council, had alleged that the report on amendment submitted by Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice Ranjit Singh along with Dr. H.K. Manmohan Singh and Brigadier Gurdip Singh (retd) to Bhai Ranjit Singh was “without jurisdiction”. He had stated that the draft of revised memorandum of the association, and rules and regulations, was “without the authority of the World Sikh Council” as the initial Committee appointed for suggesting amendments had ceased to exist.
He had added that the some of the members had been dropped, while president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Gurcharan Singh 3Tohra had been included in the committee reconstituted by Justice Kuldip Singh and others. In the other suit, Maloya had alleged that appointment of Justice Kuldip Singh as president was “null and void” as he was not an “Amritdhari Sikh”. Bhai Ranjit Singh had no authority to appoint him as the president, it was alleged. Moreover, the appointment was against the rules and regulations of the World Sikh Council, which was a registered body, Maloya had alleged.
Meanwhile, in a reply submitted on behalf of the World Sikh Council, it was stated that the suit was “vexatious, frivolous and with a view to malign the authority of the highest authority of the Sikh panth.”
Seeking the dismissal of the suit, it was added that the appointment was in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s constitution and Bhai Ranjit Singh had the authority. Justice Kuldip Singh was eligible under the constitution to be appointed as the president. Moreover, he was baptised and became an Amritdhari Sikh on March 17, 1998.