J-K govt may take over assets of Sikh shrines

The Mufti Mohammed Syed government is planning to take over the assets of gurdwaras in J-K. Official sources told The Indian Express that the government is considering the move following reports of bunglings in the management of Sikh shrines. Minister of State for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Manjeet Singh said: ‘‘There are provisions in the 1963 Gurdwara Sikh Endowment Act that allows the government to take over the assets. We can appoint an Administrator who would look after the assets of the shrines. We are holding discussions over the amendment in the Act as well.’’

The state government had earlier wrested the Muslim Auqaf Trust, a trust taking care of the assets of Muslim shrines, from the National Conference and named it Wakf Board, alleging financial irregularities. But while taking over of the Trust did not ruffle too many feathers, taking control of the assets of gurdwaras may incite religious passions, as the government is headed by a Muslim Chief Minister.

Sources said serious differences have cropped up between the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, which monitors the accounts of the shrines, and the district committees. Interestingly, the 15 members of the Board, including president Tarlochan Singh Wazir, belong to the National Conference. The Board was elected a year ago.

‘‘During the election of the state-level Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, the district committees were not represented as per population. We may also bring a Bill in the Assembly to ensure the district committees get voting rights as per their population,’’ Singh said.