{
  "id": 5973564,
  "title": "Why India’s biggest elected religious body hasn’t conducted polls in 15 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/why-indias-biggest-elected-religious-body-hasnt-conducted-polls-in-15",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T12:18:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sgpc-elections-delay-sikh-religious-body-punjab-haryana-10865787/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) inactive for 15 years",
    "General House of 185 members has not conducted elections",
    "Court dispute and 2016 amendment halted election process"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}