Cabinet decides to reduce SGPC members in Nanded Takht Board

MUMBAI: The representation of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in the Takht Hazur Sahib Board at Nanded will be reduced, with the Maharashtra Cabinet approving the report of Bhatia committee.

The Bhatia committee, headed by former High Court Justice (retd) J S Bhatia, has recommended increasing the representation of local Sikhs in the Board.

The committee had been constituted by the state to recommend amendments in the Takht Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Board Nanded Act, 1956.

The Cabinet decision last night paves way for formation of a new gurudwara Board to manage the affairs of the Takht at Nanded.

Accordingly, there will now be 21 members in the Board instead of 17 earlier. Also, instead of the earlier four nominated SGPC members, now there will be only one SGPC nominated member, an official said after the Cabinet meeting.

Of the 21 members, 18 will be elected of which nine will be from Nanded district. Two will be nominated by Maharashtra government and one by SGPC.

The Nanded Collector will be on the Board. All members, except the Collector, will be Sikhs