SC to consider a plea against 'desecration' of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' at Sikkim
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A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked petitioners by Amritpal Singh Khalsa, a law student, and Ajmer Singh Randhawa to provide a copy of his petition to Sikkim government's counsel and put the matter for consideration on Wednesday. Deccan Herald file photo
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea contending “desecration” and “destruction” of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' at Sikkim under the garb of renovation.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked petitioners by Amritpal Singh Khalsa, a law student, and Ajmer Singh Randhawa to provide a copy of his petition to Sikkim government's counsel and put the matter for consideration on Wednesday.
The petitioners claimed “imminent threat of demolition” under the garb of the renovation of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma'. They claimed 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' and other religious items have been shifted out of site without a notice, an order, or due process of law. They contended that the authorities must be restrained from carrying out their actions as those were against fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
They further claimed that they have sufficient historic books and documents as evidence which indicated that Guru Nanak Ji, the first Guru of Sikhs, went to 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' in its current place.
“If the respondents (Sikkim government authorities) wish to carry out any renovation work a prior notice of one month should be given to Sikh priest/Sikh people staying in Sikkim/ SGPC, Amritsar so that appropriate action for shifting of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as per Sikh Rehat Maryada/ Code of Conduct can be taken,” they said.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked petitioners by Amritpal Singh Khalsa, a law student, and Ajmer Singh Randhawa to provide a copy of his petition to Sikkim government's counsel and put the matter for consideration on Wednesday.
The petitioners claimed “imminent threat of demolition” under the garb of the renovation of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma'. They claimed 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' and other religious items have been shifted out of site without a notice, an order, or due process of law. They contended that the authorities must be restrained from carrying out their actions as those were against fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
They further claimed that they have sufficient historic books and documents as evidence which indicated that Guru Nanak Ji, the first Guru of Sikhs, went to 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' in its current place.
“If the respondents (Sikkim government authorities) wish to carry out any renovation work a prior notice of one month should be given to Sikh priest/Sikh people staying in Sikkim/ SGPC, Amritsar so that appropriate action for shifting of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as per Sikh Rehat Maryada/ Code of Conduct can be taken,” they said.