PIL seeks display of sacred relics of Sikhs at Hira Mahal, Nabha

Chandigarh, India: Nabha Public Society, Dashmesh Nag ar, has approached the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking directions to the authorities to display sacred relics of Guru Gobind Singh and other gurus at Hira Mahal in Nabha.

The relics are now locked at Quila Mubarak in Patiala. For over 240 years, there were kept at Hira Mahal.

Taking up a public interest litigation filed by society’s president, Gur mail Singh, a division bench headed by chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul has issued notices to the Punjab government, Maharaja Partap Singh Trust, Tikka Hanumant Singh, son of late Maharaja Partap Singh of Nabha, and Punjab Public School, Nabha.

All the respondent parties have been directed to file their replies before November 26.

The petitioner society has also sought directions to the authorities to restrain the authorities from transferring the historic and sacred relics of gurus elsewhere, that was likely to hurt religious sentiments of worshippers.

After the battle of Bhagani, the 10th Guru Gobind Singh, bestowed his turban, comb with hair and a sword with a Hukamnana (edict) to Fakir Budhu Shah.

These were later transferred to the Maharaja of Nabha and were kept along with the Guru Granth Sahib at Hira Mahal for public display.

It was also informed that the Maharaja had created an educational trust, Maharaja Partap Singh Trust.

The Hira Mahal build-ing, which was his private property, was given to Punjab Public School Nabha Society, for educational causes in 1994, without any monetary benefits.

However, it has been alleged that the present chairman of the trust, Tikka Hanumant Singh, transported the sacred relics, heirlooms and writings to his own residence at Delhi and kept them locked.

On directions from the high court in 2008, the items were brought back from Delhi, but have been kept locked at Patiala’s Quila Mubarak.

Source: HT