An autonomous organisation, the DSGMC manages various educational institutions, hospitals, old age homes, libraries and other charitable institutions in the city, besides gurudwaras visited by over a million Sikhs in the city.

“It has become a regular feature in Delhi gurudwaras that the faction in power makes every effort to hold on to office, making a mockery of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act.

The present litigation is the outcome of the struggle of one faction to remain in office and of the other to dislodge,” Justice Rekha Sharma noted, while criticising the conduct of the two factions.

The sharp words from the court came on a petition filed by the rival group, led by S Malkinder Singh, against the incumbent Executive Board of the DSGMC.

With the “sole object of perpetuating their hold over the management of the gurudwaras and (their) property”, Singh contended, the board has been avoiding its obligation under law to call for an annual general meeting and hold elections for a new board.

In response, the incumbents said amendment in the Gurudwaras Act last year has empowered the current Executive Board to continue till February 2009.

Noting that the records of both factions in managing the properties were “so dismal that it is difficult to decide which bridge to cross and which to burn”, Justice Sharma reminded them of their Gurus’ warning that “when holy places are desecrated, the world simply sinks”.

The court found the incumbents at fault for failing to call the annual general meetings in the last two years, thus depriving other members the right to contest elections.

Justice Sharma passed a decree of mandatory injunction against the DSGMC, directing it to call for a general body meeting within the next 15 days, followed by elections for new Executive Board within a month.

Of the 55 members of the DSGMC, 46 are elected by about 450,000 registered voters in the Capital.