Unauthorized Gurbani Broadcast from Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Cannot Be Carried Out: Advocate Dhami

Says: Action Will Be Taken Against Those Who Download YouTube Links and Re-stream Gurbani Broadcasts

Legal Notice Served to GTC Channel; Directed to Immediately Stop Unauthorized Gurbani Broadcast

Amritsar, August 6 –Kanwar Partap Singh - All rights pertaining to the broadcast of Gurbani from Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib are exclusively vested with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and no channel may broadcast it on its own without prior authorization. This was stated by the President of the Shiromani Committee, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, during a press conference held at the SGPC office.
 He informed that late last night, Mr. Rabindra Narayan, Managing Director of GTC Channel, made a Facebook post stating that his channel would broadcast Gurbani by using the link from the SGPC's official YouTube channel. He also sent an email to the Shiromani Committee at 9:00 PM informing it of this decision. Advocate Dhami said that this amounts to a violation of the established rules and directed GTC Channel to immediately cease the unauthorized Gurbani broadcast.
 Addressing the media, the SGPC President said that the agreement between the Shiromani Committee and PTC Channel regarding Gurbani broadcast was terminated in 2023. Thereafter, in accordance with the directives of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the SGPC initiated the process of establishing its own channel. Following several meetings of the sub-committee constituted for this purpose, it was recommended that a web channel be launched. Different companies were contacted to establish the required infrastructure and provide technical staff, and they estimated a monthly expenditure of approximately ₹12 lakh.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the letter issued by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on July 21, 2023, and keeping in view the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat, the Shiromani Committee agreed to allow PTC Channel, which had previously been broadcasting Gurbani and had committed to bearing the monthly expenditure of approximately ₹12 lakh for the technical setup and staff, to continue Gurbani broadcast only through satellite transmission. However, all rights related to Gurbani broadcast were retained exclusively by the Shiromani Committee.

The SGPC President said that the issue of Gurbani broadcast is closely connected with the religious sentiments of the Sikh Sangat, and it is inappropriate that certain individuals continue to politicize the matter. He stated that it is wholly improper for GTC Channel to begin broadcasting Gurbani on its own without any official authorization.

He further said that commencing Gurbani broadcast without permission, merely on the basis of a public statement and without any official decision of the Shiromani Committee, is not only unauthorized and unethical but also illegal. He added that a legal notice is being served upon GTC Channel in this regard. 

Advocate Dhami clarified that no one has the right to download content from the Shiromani Committee's official YouTube channel. Anyone wishing to render service towards the dissemination of Gurbani may only share the official link. However, if anyone downloads the broadcast and re-streams it, appropriate legal action will be taken against them.

He further clarified that if any other channel submits a formal request seeking permission for a live Gurbani broadcast, the institution may consider the request in accordance with its rules. Appropriate regulations will have to be framed for such requests. However, no one is permitted to begin live broadcasting on their own. Since the institution functions strictly in accordance with its established rules, all matters relating to Gurbani broadcast will also be dealt with accordingly.

Advocate Dhami emphasized that the broadcast of Gurbani must always uphold the established Sikh Maryada (religious code of conduct) and traditions, and therefore such rights cannot be granted indiscriminately to everyone.

Present on the occasion were Shiromani Committee members Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta and S. Bawa Singh Ghumanpura; OSD S. Satbir Singh; Secretary S. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan; Private Secretary S. Shahbaz Singh; Manager of Sri Darbar Sahib S. Major Singh; Legal Advisor Advocate Amanbir Singh Siali; and others.