📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Politics
Punjab HC Demands Action on SGPC Election Delay, Seeks New Chief Election Commissioner
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 09:16 AM
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stance on the prolonged delay in conducting elections for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), demanding the central government appoint a new Chief Election Commissioner within two weeks.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern directive over the ongoing delay in holding elections for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The court has formally requested the central government to appoint a new Chief Election Commissioner to oversee the process, citing the need for timely elections.
In its order, the High Court emphasized that the delay has caused significant uncertainty among SGPC members and the Sikh community at large. It urged the central authorities to act within a two‑week window to ensure that the elections can be conducted without further postponement.
The SGPC, which administers Sikh gurdwaras across Punjab, has faced criticism for its extended election timetable. The court’s intervention is expected to pressure the government to expedite the appointment of a Chief Election Commissioner and to set a definitive schedule for the upcoming polls.
Observers note that a swift appointment could restore confidence in the electoral process and prevent further legal challenges. The central government has yet to respond to the court’s directive, but the deadline is looming.
The High Court’s order underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding democratic procedures within the state’s religious institutions.
In its order, the High Court emphasized that the delay has caused significant uncertainty among SGPC members and the Sikh community at large. It urged the central authorities to act within a two‑week window to ensure that the elections can be conducted without further postponement.
The SGPC, which administers Sikh gurdwaras across Punjab, has faced criticism for its extended election timetable. The court’s intervention is expected to pressure the government to expedite the appointment of a Chief Election Commissioner and to set a definitive schedule for the upcoming polls.
Observers note that a swift appointment could restore confidence in the electoral process and prevent further legal challenges. The central government has yet to respond to the court’s directive, but the deadline is looming.
The High Court’s order underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding democratic procedures within the state’s religious institutions.