The case had been filed by Shamsher Singh Maloya, brother of Beant Singh, the assassin of Indira Gandhi, challenging the election of Justice Kuldip Singh as president of the World Sikh Council which is a registered body.

The withdrawal of the case would facilitate the handing over of the accounts of the Council to the new office bearers as the case was stated to be a hurdle in this process. It is the submission of the accounts which had cropped up as a major irritant between Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh and Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Manjit Singh.

The joint meeting of the old and new members of the Council has been convened here today at the initiative of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Tohra had met Shamsher Singh here on Wednesday at theresidence of senior advocate Wing Commander Hazara Singh (retd) to discuss the withdrawal of the case. The groundwork had earlier been done by Hazara Singh who was instrumental in taking the initiative to the logical conclusion. He accompanied Shamsher Singh to the court to file the application for the withdrawal of the case. Hazara Singh is associated with Union Minister Ram Jethmalani.

The withdrawal of the case has strengthened the hands of the SGPC chief to deal with the situation.

Manjit Singh has said he would extend full cooperation in resolving the irritants. Talking to the media persons, he did not favour the three feuding jathedars submitting their resignations at this juncture. He said he was opposed to quitting the scene with a blot on his face while making it clear he had no lust for any office. He said such a step could be taken in the interest of the Panth but not without being cleared of the charges against him.

Manjit Singh provided details of the Gurmat Sagar Trust associated with himand said its main aim was taking up research projects, besides setting up of a de-addiction centre. The trust owns about 40 acres of land for this purpose. He said the decision to sell residential plots out of this land was taken later to preserve the environment.

The trust has so far incurred an expenditure of about Rs 70 lakh on the development of this land. He also denied the trust had taken help of the state government for developing this land. He said there was no irregularity in transferring 11 acre of land by a non-resident Indian to Gurmat Sagar Trust.

Manjit Singh ruled out winding up the trusts in the face of allegations levelled against him mainly by Bhai Ranjit Singh. He said the issue of Gurmat Sagar Trust or the donation of land by the NRI never cropped up in any meeting of the clergy.

He reiterated that certain forces within the Sikh community and outside were conspiring to sabotage 300th anniversary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa in April next but refused to comment whether BhaiRanjit Singh had become an instrument into the hands of such forces.

Manjit Singh said in the presence of Giani Kewal Singh the real issue was implementing the Hukamnama (edict) banning serving langar on tables and chairs by force. He favoured persuasion. He disclosed the matter had been referred to him earlier when he was the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht. He had clarified that serving langar on tables and chairs was not the maryada but opposed implementing it by force.