Amritsar, July 23: Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Tuesday gave members of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) a 41-day deadline—till September 1—to become Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs) and begin following the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct). Failure to comply will lead to termination of membership from the historic Sikh organisation, the jathedar warned.
The decision comes in the wake of allegations that several CKD members and office-bearers were either not amritdhari or not strictly adhering to the prescribed Sikh code of conduct. In response, CKD president Dr Inderbir Singh, along with 20 executive members, appeared before the Akal Takht Sahib to present their explanation.
Speaking after the closed-door appearance, Giani Gargaj said, “In accordance with the CKD’s own constitution and the Sikh Rehat Maryada as laid down by the Akal Takht, it is mandatory for all members to be Amritdhari. Anyone who has not taken amrit or is found deviating from Sikh discipline—such as dyeing or curling their beard—must rectify this by September 1.”
To facilitate the process, the Akal Takht will send panj pyaras (five beloved ones) to administer the amrit sanchar (initiation ceremony) and guide CKD members in embracing the prescribed Sikh lifestyle. “This is not just about personal discipline; it is about safeguarding the character and purpose of a religious institution like the CKD,” the jathedar said.
For members who failed to appear on Tuesday, the jathedar has issued summons to be present at the Akal Takht secretariat on August 1. “No one can consider themselves above the discipline of the Panth. If any member fails to comply by the given date, their membership in the CKD will be revoked,” he added firmly.
In a parallel directive, Giani Gargaj also instructed CKD to take proactive steps to address growing concerns about religious conversions in Punjab’s border belt. He directed the organisation to establish Sikh-focused schools in these vulnerable areas and offer educational concessions to children from Sikh families to encourage them to stay connected to their religious roots.
The CKD, one of the oldest Sikh socio-religious organisations, runs schools, colleges, and charitable institutions across Punjab. Over the years, it has played a key role in promoting Sikh education and service, but its leadership has occasionally come under scrutiny for deviating from traditional norms.
Tuesday’s orders mark one of the most assertive interventions by the Akal Takht in recent years to ensure that institutions operating under Sikh religious identity maintain strict adherence to the code of conduct.
As the deadline nears, all eyes will be on how the CKD leadership and its members respond to what many are calling a defining test of religious accountability.
