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‘Country’s biggest fight’: Amit Shah outlines roadmap for ‘drug-free’ India by 2029

‘Country’s biggest fight’: Amit Shah outlines roadmap for ‘drug-free’ India by 2029

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), India's largest elected religious body, has not held elections in 15 years. Despite its status as a statutory organization managing Sikh gurdwaras, the SGPC's General House, comprised of 185 elected and nominated members, has remained inactive. Established under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, the SGPC plays a significant role in Sikh politics and administration.

Elections are typically conducted by the Central government-appointed Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, but a court dispute over voting rights for Sikhs who have trimmed or shaved their beards has stalled the process. This dispute, combined with a 2016 amendment that disqualified such Sikhs from being SGPC electors, has kept the 2011-elected House in power indefinitely.

The issue resurfaced in August 2025 when Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa questioned the Central government about a timeline for SGPC elections. However, the government's response indicated ongoing legal challenges to the preparation of new electoral rolls, citing pending petitions.

Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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