Priests of Gurudwara Disqualified for Solemnizing Same-Sex Wedding

Chandigarh: The Akal Takht, the highest authority of Sikh places of worship, disqualified the priests of a Gurudwara in Bathinda from performing religious rituals as they were found guilty of solemnizing a same-sex wedding of two women at the shrine a month back.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ‘Panj Singh Sahibans’ (five Sikh clergymen) of Akal Takht in Amritsar on Monday.

Two women got “married” at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Bathinda district on September 18.

On Monday, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said there is no room for same-sex marriage under Sikh tenets and disqualified the priests from performing religious services.

The five erring priests were blacklisted for five years for violating the ‘Sikh rehat maryada’ (code of conduct). Because of it, they will not be permitted to perform any religious service at any gurdwara or at religious events.

In 2005, the Akal Takht had issued a ‘hukamnama’ (religious edict) against same-sex marriage.