SARBAT KHALSA 2016: SAD (Amritsar) withdraws petition from High Court just 1 day ahead of hearing

Posted: 08 Nov 2016

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) S. Simranjit Singh Mann today withdrew petition filed for seeking permission to hold Sarbat Khalsa 2016 from the Punjab & Haryana High Court. Notably, the petition was moved by SAD (Amritsar) following the denial of permission to hold the event by Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda Sri Basant Garg.
The petition was being entertained by the Justice R.K. Jain of Punjab & Haryana High Court and the Advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal was representing the petitioner.
Sikh24 spoke with several sources within the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), however, we could not clarify the reasoning behind the move.  We have learnt that the High Court had found the petition unclear and had asked Advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal in last hearing to get hold of material which could help in adjudication of the matter.
Sarbat Khalsa 2016 is slated for November 10 at Talwandi Sabo to deliberate upon the challenges in front of Sikh community. As per internal sources, the organizers of Sarbat Khalsa 2016 were to release dossier revealing terms for appointment, jurisdiction and retirement of Takht Jathedars in the event but the Punjab government has almost sabotaged the event by making statewide arrests of Sikh activists and removing tents from event venue.