| News Details |
| Government reminded of statutory obligation Under Section 18 of Sikh Gurdwaras Act | | to Ensure Annual Audit of DGPCs Through Appropriate Directions to Every Deputy Commissioner:Balvinder Singh |
Jammu, July 10 (Scoop News)-Balvinder Singh, RTI Activist and Vice President of the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, has urged the Jammu & Kashmir Government to fulfil its statutory obligation under Section 18 of the Jammu & Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973, by making necessary arrangements for the annual audit of accounts of all District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees (DGPCs).
He urged the Government to issue appropriate directions to every Deputy Commissioner in the Union Territory to facilitate compliance with the provisions of the Act and ensure that auditors are appointed for the respective District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees so that their accounts are audited annually as mandated under law.
Balvinder Singh said that a detailed representation in this regard was submitted on 16 May 2026 to the Chief Secretary through the Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department, with copies to the Commissioner/Secretary, Finance Department. However, despite the lapse of more than fifty days, the matter is still awaiting appropriate consideration.
He stated that the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees were constituted on 27 June 2022, yet the statutory audit mechanism envisaged under the Act has not commenced. Referring to Section 18(1), he said that the provision clearly mandates that the accounts of the Board and the Committees shall be audited once every year by an auditor appointed by the Government. Thus, the responsibility of ensuring the appointment of auditors and facilitating annual audits rests with the Government under the statutory framework.
He further pointed out that Section 18(2) specifically provides that the expenses of such audit shall be borne from the funds of the Board or the concerned Committee, leaving no financial impediment in conducting the statutory audit.
Balvinder Singh also referred to Section 15 of the Act, under which matters relating to District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees are dealt with by the respective Deputy Commissioners, while matters concerning the Jammu and Kashmir Gurdwara Board fall within the jurisdiction of the Divisional Commissioners. In view of this statutory framework, he urged the Government to issue appropriate directions to every Deputy Commissioner to facilitate the appointment of auditors for the respective DGPCs and ensure that annual audits are conducted in accordance with Section 18 of the Act.
"There is no financial difficulty in conducting the statutory audit, as Section 18(2) provides that the audit expenditure shall be borne from the funds of the concerned Committee. DGPC Jammu is fully prepared to bear the audit expenses in accordance with the provisions of the Act," Balvinder Singh said.
He emphasized that annual statutory audits are essential for ensuring transparency, financial accountability and good governance in the management of Sikh religious institutions. He urged the Chief Secretary to issue appropriate directions to every Deputy Commissioner, commence the audit of DGPC Jammu from the date of its constitution, and establish a permanent mechanism to ensure regular annual audits of all District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees in strict compliance with the Jammu & Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973.
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