An emergency meeting of the DSGMC held yesterday night declared the ``election'' of Gyani Pooran Singh as Jathedar of the Akal Takht unconstitutional by a majority vote. They also said Bhai Ranjit Singh continued to be the head of the Sikh temporal seat.

Bhajan Singh Walia, the DSGMC executive committee member, told reporters that 12 out of 15 members of DSGMC were present at the emergency meeting.

``The decision of the 10 executive members of the SGPC regarding Akal Takht is unconstitutional and against the tenets of the Sikh Panth,'' a statement issued at the press conference said. The statement also containted an appeal to Gyani Pooran Singh to follow the high traditions of Damdami Taksal to which he belongs and not to accept the decision of the 10 SGPC executive members. Walia also claimed that Bhai Ranjit Singh was the Jathedar of Akal Takht and the supreme embodiment of the Panth, his authority was unchallengeable and ``we pledge to celebrate the tercentenary of Khalsa Panth under his guidance''.

He said the DSGMC meeting was presided over by Gurcharan Singh Gatka Master, senior vice-president, in the absence of president Jaswant Singh. Jaswant Singh chose to abstain despite being sympathetic to the ``cause'' because he wanted to remain ``neutral'', Walia told reporters. While another member, Daljit Kaur, was out of town, the remaining member, Jasbir Singh Kaka, could not be contacted, Walia explained.