Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) was constituted under the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act 1971 with the main objective to manage and look after the affairs of Gurdwaras and Gurdwaras properties in Delhi. The first election of this Committee was conducted by Delhi Government on 30th March 1975 and accordingly first Committee came into existence on 28th April, 1975.
Although it is the sole responsibility of the Delhi Government to conduct these election well in time after every four years, but more often it has been seen that these elections are delayed by the government and rather conducted after the intervention of the Court of law. After the enforcement of Delhi Gurdwara Act on 7th April 1972, 7 elections were held in the year 1975, 1979, 1995, 2002, 2007, 2013 and 2017 respectively during the span of 49 years till now, whereas as per Act these elections could have been held for 12 times.
Last Delhi Gurdwara Elections were held on 26th February 2017 and accordingly the Executive Board of the Committee was constituted on 30th March 2017, as such the tenure of the present Committee stood expired on 29th March 2021. Although the government earlier announced these elections to be held on 25th April 2021 but postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic, which are now scheduled to be held on 22nd August 2021.
In accordance with the prevailing Delhi Gurdwara Act, Delhi has been divided into 46 wards, de-limitation of which have been made in the year 2015. Delhi Gurdwara Committee consists of a total of 55 members out of which 46 are elected by Sikh voters from different wards and 9 are Co-opted members.
It is pertinent to mention that the fresh voter list were prepared after making door to door survey in the year 1983 but after that the process for preparation of fresh voter lists is being dropped again and again while taking plea of paucity of time.
As such, 38 years old obsolete voter lists are being used till now after making amendments thereof. In the recent amendment drive, names of 92 thousand voters were deleted but only 48 thousand new Sikh voters were included in entire Delhi.
As such, about 3 lakh 42 thousand Sikh voters consisting of 1 Lakh 71 thousand male voters and almost equal number of fremale voters having about 80 percent photographs will participate in the present elections, whereas there were 3 Lakh 86 thousand Sikh Voters during 2017 Gurdwara elections out of which only 45 percent voters exercised their voting rights.
In ensuing Gurdwara Elections, 7 recognized parties have been allotted reserved election symbols, although one party has not fielded any candidate. Apart from this, 22 election symbols have been kept for Independent candidates. Out of a total of 312 contesting candidates, 180 have been fielded by different recognized parties and other 132 are independent candidates. As per prevailing rules, party securing less than 6 percent votes will be de-recognized.
Likewise any candidate securing less than 20 percent of valid votes will lose his security deposit of Rs. 5000 to the Government. Elections will be held through ballot papers for which about 546 polling booths have been set up in government schools in different parts of Delhi. For smooth conduct of elections, 23 Returning Officers, 46 Asstt.
Returning Officers and other required officers & staff have been deputed. Every contesting candidate has a right to appoint his Election Agent, Polling and Counting Agents in prescribed numbers. Counting of votes will be held on 25th August in designated Counting Centres set up in different locations of Delhi and election results will be declared on the same day. In case more than one candidate secure equal number of the highest votes, the winner will be decided by draw of lot.
Thereafter, a meeting of the 46 elected members will be called by the Director Gurdwara Elections within 15 days of issue of notifications of election results in which 9 members will be Co-opted consisting of 1 nominee of SGPC, Sri Amritsar, 2 members out of the Presidents of registered Singh Sabhas of Delhi by lottery system, 2 persons to be Co-opted by voting by the 46 elected members and Head Priests of four Takhats despite these Head Priests having no voting right.
Needless to say that Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab has not been included as fifth Takhat in the Delhi Gurdwara Act so far. After the completion of the Co-option process, the Director Gurdwara Elections will call a meeting of all the 55 members within 15 days in which after Oath taking ceremony in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, election of the Executive Board consisting of five office-bearers of the Committee viz. President, Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President, General Secretary, Joint Secretary and 10 members of the Executive Board will be held.
After that, new Executive Board will start functioning taking charge from the existing Committee, whereas the tenure of the new Executive Board will be of 2 years. It is also pertinent to mention that in case of any election dispute during these elections, an Election Petition can be filed with the District Court of Delhi within 15 days from the date of issue of notification.
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