Takht Patna Sahib declares Sukhbir ‘tankhaiya’ for disobedience, Akal Takht overturns decision

Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Bihar on Saturday pronounced Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) for failing to appear before it and ignoring its directions, a decision that was overturned in the evening by Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhism.

The five high priests at Takht Sri Patna Sahib had accused Sukhbir of interfering in the organisation’s internal affairs and failing to appear before them despite being given three opportunities, including a 20-day extension on the request of SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. This, they said, “compelled them to issue the ‘tankhaiya’ edict”.

However, Akal Takht rejected the pronouncement and instead declared three of the five Takht Sri Patna Sahib high priests ‘tankhaiya’, directing them to clarify their position within 15 days.

The Akal Takht decision followed a meeting convened by officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and attended by four other high priests—Giani Rajdeep Singh, Giani Sultan Singh, Giani Kewal Singh and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baba Tek Singh.

A resolution passed during the meeting reaffirmed that while all the five Takhts were sacred and revered by Sikhs globally, the Gurmat tradition recognised Akal Takht as the final authority on religious matters. The resolution condemned the Takht Sri Patna Sahib edicts as “unauthorised and contrary to the Sikh tradition, asserting that these undermined the supremacy of Akal Takht”.

Akal Takht also declared Bhai Gurdial Singh, additional head granthi at Takht Sri Patna Sahib, as ‘tankhaiya’ for allegedly sowing discord and defying its directives. It also advised the Sikh community not to invite him for panthic or Gurmat events until he personally appeared before Akal Takht to seek forgiveness.

Two members of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib management committee, Harpal Singh Johal and Dr Gurmeet Singh, were also declared ‘tankhaiya’ for allegedly engaging in media campaigns and conspiracies that challenged the sanctity of Akal Takht. They have been directed to appear before Akal Takht and seek forgiveness, failing which the Sikh community has been asked to boycott them socially and religiously.

Additionally, Akal Takht has summoned the entire management committee of Takht Sri Patna Sahib, including president Jagjot Singh Sohi, senior vice-president Lakhwinder Singh, junior vice-president Gurvinder Singh, general secretary Inderjeet Singh, secretary Harbans Singh, and members Gobind Singh Longowal, Raja Singh and Mahinderpal Singh, to present their side within 15 days.

The original edict from Takht Sri Patna Sahib had accused Sukhbir of conspiring in the reinstatement of excommunicated Jathedar Giani Ranjit Singh Gauhar and in summoning the Takht’s head granthi and additional head granthi to Akal Takht, actions viewed as “undermining the Patna-based Takht’s autonomy”.

The SGPC dismissed the edict, asserting that Takht Sri Patna Sahib lacked jurisdiction in such matters. SGPC president Dhami emphasised that only Akal Takht had the authority to deliberate on panthic issues and warned that challenges to its supremacy could fracture Sikh unity. He called for resolution through dialogue rather than confrontation.

SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema supported this view, stating that the SGPC, as the democratically elected Sikh body, stood with Akal Takht. He said Sukhbir would comply with the directives of the Akal Takht Jathedar in all religious matters.

The controversy dates back to May 21 when the ‘panj pyare’ at Takht Sri Patna Sahib summoned Sukhbir for allegedly interfering in its functioning. In the same meeting, they also declared Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baba Tek Singh as ‘tankhaiya’ for reinstating Gauhar and summoning granthis without Takht Sri Patna Sahib’s consent.

Sukhbir had initially cited ill-health and requested more time to appear. In mid-June, the Takht granted him an additional 20 days, which also passed without his appearance.

This is not the first time Sukhbir has faced such censure. On August 30, 2024, five high priests led by then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had declared him ‘tankhaiya’ for controversial decisions taken during his tenure as the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and as SAD president. While undergoing religious penance at the Golden Temple, Sukhbir narrowly survived an assassination attempt on December 4 when Khalistani militant Narayan Singh Chaura opened fire at him as he served as a ‘sewadar’ at the shrine’s entrance.

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