Overview
- The five-member expert panel set up by the Akal Takht held its first meeting and said it will not enter substantive talks until the Punjab government submits a formal compliance report addressing directives issued on June 29.
- The panel is made up of Justice (Retd.) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retd.) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Dr Kehar Singh and Prof Jagmohan Singh.
- Panel members publicly rejected the Punjab government’s July 29 reply as an obfuscation that failed to answer core objections about provisions seen as interfering with Sikh religious affairs.
- Under orders from Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, letters were sent to the Assembly Speaker, Sikh MLAs and ministers instructing them to block any discussion or amendment of the bill until Panthic consensus is reached.
- The dispute could stall the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act’s progress in the Punjab Assembly because the Akal Takht is urging a structured, expert-led mediation and the state has not yet formed its own committee to engage.