Aam Aadmi Party MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib regarding the amendments proposed in the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 and during his appearance, Nijjar submitted the draft of the amended bill before Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The development comes after the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib had directed that necessary amendments in the Act should be made by July 29 and following these directions, the Punjab Government’s Home Affairs Department sent communication regarding the required amendments to the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar.
The matter relates to the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which was passed by the Punjab Assembly and later became a subject of discussion after objections were raised regarding the process of its approval.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib had raised concerns that the amendment was passed without taking consent from Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the issue led to Sikh MLAs and ministers being called to explain their position before the Sikh high priests.
Earlier, acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj had announced that Sikh MLAs and Cabinet ministers would be asked to appear and clarify their stand on the legislation and stated that there should be no interference in the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and matters related to Sikh faith should remain under the jurisdiction of the Sikh Panth.
Sikh ministers and MLAs appeared before five Sikh high priests led by Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and the proceedings were conducted inside a specially arranged pandal at the hall of the under-construction new secretariat building opposite the existing Sri Akal Takht Secretariat.
During the proceedings, Sikh MLAs were expected to clarify whether they personally supported the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, and whether they continued to support or oppose the law after objections were raised by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The Punjab Assembly has 117 MLAs, including 89 Sikh legislators and 28 non-Sikh legislators. Sikh MLAs were asked to appear personally before Sikh high priests, while non-Sikh MLAs were asked to submit their views in writing.
According to Sikh traditions followed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sikh MLAs who are considered patit Sikhs were not called to appear in the front courtyard of Akal Takht and keeping these norms in mind, all Sikh MLAs were asked to appear in the hall of the under-construction secretariat building.
While speaking earlier, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib was established by the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, and holds the position of the supreme temporal seat of the Sikh community and he had stated that amendments made to the 2008 law resulted in government interference in Sikh religious matters without the consent of the Khalsa Panth. He said matters related to Sikh traditions, respect for Guru Sahib and the relationship between Guru and Sikhs come under the authority of the Panth and not the government.
