SGPC and Akal Takht Should Take Control of All Guru Ji's Birs

When I say take control, what I mean to say is not allow any 'beadbi' or sacrilege to take place. If SGPC and Akal Takht exercise their copyrights, terms of use, and publication rights, perhaps they can prevent individuals from installing the Guru Granth Sahib in places where alcohol is served and/ or other acts of disrespect (bhangra, dancing, etc....or offence to Sikhs take place.

Personally, I think that taking a legal route to removing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from places in England, Canada, etc... where Rehat Maryada isn't followed, on the grounds that the terms (of use) under which someone acquires the right to install the Guru Ji in a place of worship (or othewise) has been violated, would allow the community to peacefully close down places like 'Bear Creek' Hall in Surrey or that place in Vancouver, on Main Street by 49th or 50th St. in Punjabi Market that has Guru Ji as well as Murtis installed on the second floor (I believe it's in the building housing Pabla's Himalaya restaurant, if I'm not mistaken). Anyone in Vancouver who knows is welcome to add their comments to correct me if I'm wrong on that point.

SGPC should have anyone who wants to install the Guru Ji sign a contract which commits them to specifically honour the Rehat Maryada under penalty of fines, removal of Guru Ji, etc.. if they don't. In places that have the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in place already should be sent notices that SGPC and Akal Takht are enforcing their copyright and legal rights to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji in getting them to sign a contract outlining the terms under which Guru Maharaj must be kept.

The Punjab government will issue an ordinance banning the publication and publishing of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, by private publishers.

The decision was taken by the government following the reception of a letter from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Acknowledging the reception of the letter from the SGPC, Mr Badal told mediapersons here today that the government will issue an ordinance in this context. He directed his Principal Secretary D S Guru to issue the ordinance which would be valid till the next assembly session.

In the letter, Jathedar Makkar had pointed out that despite the ban, a number of private publishers still continued to publish and print the Sikh scripture. He had sought the state governments help to curb this trend.

The SGPC had a few years back banned private publishing houses or individuals from printing and publishing the Guru Granth Sahib.

The ban was imposed after it was found that a majority of the publishers had not been adhering to the 'religious rules' framed by the SGPC, which tantamounts to showing 'disrespect' to the scripture.

The 'rules' are normally those followed when a devotee goes to a gurdwara to pay obeisance. These include covering the head and washing ones hands and not wearing shoes or slippers while publishing the Guru Granth Sahib.

Consumption of alcohol, tobacco and smoking are also banned inside pulishing houses or in shops where the scripture is displayed for sale. Under the rules, pages or verses of the holy scripture which are 'rejected' due to printing errors have to be 'cremated' as per traditions laid down in Sikhism.

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