Suit against new Nanakshahi calendar

 CHANDIGARH: A civil suit seeking restraint on the implementation of new Nanakshahi calendar was filed in city’s district court by Harmohinder Singh, convener, Punjab unit, Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi, on Tuesday here.The suit was filed seeking permanent injunction restraining Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and its members from implementing new Nanakshahi calendar as decided in January 3 meeting, until a calendar is decided by the Sikh community. The suit added that directions be issued to the SGPC and its members to prevent it from interfering in decisions of religious interpretations, practices and assuming the role of religious authority in contravention of the constitution. According to suit, Pal Singh Purewal, a Canadian and renowned Sikh scholar, drafted calendar after consulting various scholars, jurists and members of various Sikh bodies. This calendar was accepted by Sikh community worldwide and was implemented in year 2003. However, recently SGPC constituted a body to determine calendar for Sikh religious holy days with a direction for all Sikhs to observe these and celebrate or commemorate them. The committee set up by SGPC lacks competence in field of both calendars and religious dates. It lacks legal authority to deliberate on such matters, the plaint claimed.