Giani Gurbachan Singh

Giani Gurbachan Singh was Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib for a decade, from August 2008 to October 2018, appointed and replaced by the SGPC. He is remembered chiefly for one act: the September 2015 pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He is a living person, and claims about why he acted are attributed to those who made them.

Background. Wikipedia, citing Hindustan Times, gives his birth as 6 April 1948 at Chakk Baja near Muktsar, and says he joined the SGPC as a granthi in 1972 and became head granthi at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Muktsar, in 1996. Rediff reported in August 2008 that he had risen from an ordinary sewadar to the Panth's highest seat.

Key moments

• 6 August 2008: the SGPC names him Jathedar of the Akal Takht after its executive votes to accept Joginder Singh Vedanti's resignation. Vedanti said he had been sacked; SGPC leaders denied involvement.
• 24 September 2015: the Panj Singh Sahiban (the five Sikh high priests, as the press calls them), under him, exonerate Gurmeet Ram Rahim after an apology letter, over the 2007 incident in which he was accused of dressing as Guru Gobind Singh. Scroll later reported that the Akal Takht's December 2024 ruling accused the Akali leadership of helping to secure this pardon, and that Sukhbir Badal admitted inviting Giani Gurbachan Singh to his home before it was issued.
• 16 October 2015: after strong resentment in the Sikh community, the Singh Sahiban withdraw the pardon. The Panj Pyaras summoned the jathedars on 23 October, and the SGPC suspended and later dismissed the Panj Pyaras.
• 10 November 2015: the Sarbat Khalsa at Chabba replaces him, naming Jagtar Singh Hawara officiating jathedar and Dhian Singh Mand to act in his absence. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar called its decisions null and void.
• October 2018: he resigns, citing health. In his letter he apologised to the Panth, saying the Dera decision drew objections and was revoked out of respect for the Panth's sentiments. The SGPC executive named Giani Harpreet Singh acting jathedar on 22 October.
• 30 November to 4 December 2024: the Akal Takht asks the 2015 jathedars to explain the reversal, finds the explanations unsatisfactory and holds them equally responsible; the SGPC withdraws his perks, including two vehicles and five sewadars.
• 8 December 2025: the Akal Takht, led by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, pronounces tankhah on him for the 2015 pardon, and the Panj Singh Sahiban instruct those named to do seva such as washing utensils in the langar hall and cleaning shoes at the Joda Ghar.

Remembered for: the 2015 pardon and its withdrawal, and for the Akal Takht itself later judging the decision.