Chief Commissioner Gurdwara Elections Justice SS Saron Denied Extension — SGPC Polls Delayed Amid High-Stakes Political Calculus
With the last General House election of the SGPC held in 2011, the management of the historic Sikh gurdwaras rests in the hands of a body whose representative legitimacy is increasingly in question.
KBS Sidhu
Justice SS Saron Denied Extension; SGPC Polls Delayed
The Union Home Ministry’s reported refusal to extend the tenure of Justice (Retd.) S.S. Saron as Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, has created a crucial vacancy at the helm of the body tasked with conducting elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the “mini-parliament of the Sikhs.” This development all but guarantees a further delay in polls that have already been overdue for more than a decade, raising urgent questions about representation, legitimacy, and political intent.
A Mandate Expired, No Extension Granted
Justice Saron attained the statutory retirement age of 70 on June 30, 2025, under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act provisions, which prohibit any incumbent from serving beyond that age. Despite requests for a limited extension to complete the voter registration process, the Centre opted not to prolong his tenure.
The process to appoint a successor is now underway, but it is unlikely to be quick. The Home Ministry must seek a panel of at least three eligible retired judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court Registrar. This shortlist is then examined by a search-cum-selection committee, followed by clearance from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Even under optimal conditions, the procedure takes two to three months. History suggests longer delays: the post remained vacant from 2014 until Justice Saron’s appointment in 2020.
Administrative Paralysis in the Election Process
The absence of a Chief Commissioner effectively freezes the SGPC electoral process. By law, only the Chief Commissioner can finalise voter rolls, issue the election notification, and supervise polling. Since October 2023, more than five million Sikh voters have registered, but deadlines have been extended multiple times, most recently to December 15, 2024, amid allegations of bogus entries and pending court disputes over the voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs.
The question of whether Sehajdhari Sikhs can vote in SGPC elections remains mired in litigation, with petitions pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Notably, no stay has been granted on a petition filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Party, leaving the matter unresolved but not legally barred from moving forward.
Given the time needed for a new Commissioner to take charge, review voter rolls, address such legal challenges, and set the poll schedule, observers believe elections could be pushed back by another six to nine months — potentially to late 2026 or even early 2027.
Political Context: Shifting Currents in Sikh Leadership
The delay comes against a backdrop of significant political churn. The rebel faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal is set to elect its president on August 11, even as the mainstream SAD has re-elected Sukhbir Singh Badal for another term. Meanwhile, the radical faction associated with Amritpal Singh remains active on the periphery, stirring concerns within the political establishment.
Under these circumstances, the Union Home Ministry appears in no rush to conduct SGPC elections. The current arrangement — an SGPC General House elected in 2011, with more than 30 members deceased and office beaers of the SGPC’s Executive Committee, including the President, chosen annually by the same electoral college— serves to maintain the Badal group’s dominance. Their nominee has been elected president every year without any significant challenge.
Who Gains from the Status Quo?
The continued postponement suits multiple actors. The mainstream Shiromani Akali Dal retains institutional control of the SGPC, bolstering its political influence. Other parties, including the Congress and AAP, appear disinterested in the contest, given the SGPC’s limited role outside Sikh religious affairs. For the Union Government, the delay minimises the risk of radical elements capturing the body and buys time to see if a united or dominant faction of Shiromani Akali Dal emerges — potentially paving the way for a BJP-Akali alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
A Question of Representation and Democratic Legitimacy
The lack of fresh elections raises serious concerns about the SGPC’s democratic character. A generation of Sikh voters — those who turned 21 since 2011 — have never been given the opportunity to participate in choosing its members. Critics argue that the body’s legitimacy is compromised when its leadership is drawn from an obsolete house, no matter how stable the arrangement appears to political stakeholders.
Supporters of the delay counter that the current political environment is too volatile, with the possibility of destabilisation if control shifts abruptly. Yet, as Sikh political factions jostle for influence and the government calculates its timing, the SGPC remains frozen in a time warp — emblematic of a broader struggle between democratic renewal and political expediency.
Unless the vacancy at the top of the Gurdwara Election Commission is filled swiftly and the electoral process revived, the “mini-parliament of the Sikhs” risks further eroding its claim to represent the Panth in the 21st century.