On the final day of the two-month period set by Sri Akal Takht Sahib in connection with the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, the Punjab Government sent details of a seven-member committee constituted to coordinate on the matter.
According to sources at the Sri Akal Takht Secretariat, a representative of the Deputy Commissioner’s office also submitted the government’s letter at the Akal Takht Secretariat on Thursday.
The letter issued by the state Home Department contains details of the seven-member committee and names of its members. The panel has been constituted to coordinate with the five-member committee formed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and discuss the objections raised regarding provisions of the amended legislation. The Punjab Government had formally constituted the seven-member coordination committee on September 16.
The government-appointed committee comprises former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Sant Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa, Sant Baba Sewa Singh of Rampur Khera, retired Justice Jaspal Singh, retired Justice Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer and former Punjab Public Service Commission chairman Jatinder Singh Aulakh, and law officer Preet Inder Pal Singh. PCS officer Harjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the nodal officer for coordination with the Akal Takht-appointed panel.
The development comes after Sri Akal Takht Sahib raised objections to several provisions of the amended law and sought changes. The government panel has been tasked with maintaining coordination with the Akal Takht committee and examining matters related to the legislation before submitting suggestions and reports to the state government.
The issue dates back to April, when the Punjab Assembly passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. The legislation received the Governor’s assent in April and was subsequently notified by the state government.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib later raised objections to certain provisions of the amended legislation. On June 29, the Akal Takht gave the Punjab Government one month to address the objections after hearing Sikh MLAs and ministers.
After the initial deadline, a further two-month period was set for the government to address the concerns. The latest move to formally communicate the constitution of the seven-member panel comes as that period ends.
The government-appointed panel has already held discussions with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. The consultations are aimed at examining the provisions of the Act and matters concerning its implementation in coordination with the committee constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The issue has remained under discussion for nearly five months, with the government and Sikh religious bodies considering the objections and possible amendments to the legislation.