Parliament passes Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016

    The Parliament has passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

• The Bill amends the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, that regulates administration of Sikh Gurdwaras in Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
• The Bill proposes removing an exception made for Sahajdharis in 1944 that allowed them to vote in elections for the Board and committees instituted under the Act.

Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 :

• The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 was a piece of legislation in British India, which legally defined Sikh identity and brought Sikh gurdwaras (houses of worship) under the control of an elected body of orthodox Sikhs. 
• Under the 1925 Act, every Sikh who is above 21 years of age and is registered as a voter is entitled to vote in the SGPC elections.
•  This Act had created an exception for Sehjdhari Sikhs who trim or shave their beard or hair, and allowed them to vote.

SGPC poll controversy :

The SGPC elections were last held in 2011, which were challenged by the Sehajdhari Federation after the Sehajdharis’ right to vote in the gurdwara elections was withdrawn by the Centre, reportedly on the advice of the ruling SAD.

In the absence of any general house, courts allowed the 15-member SGPC executive elected in November 2010 to conduct day-to-day functioning of the religious body. It is by virtue of this ruling that Avtar Singh Makkar and other office-bearers have continued to hold the office since then.

Who are Sehajdhari Sikhs :

• Sahajdhari or a Sikh Deist (literally "slow adopter") is a person who has chosen the path of Sikhism, but has not yet become an Amritdhari (an initiated Sikh initiated into the Khalsa).
•  A sahajdhari believes in all the tenets of Sikhism and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, but may or may not adorn the five symbols of the Sikh faith.
•  This is not to be confused with the term Mona Sikhs or Mona Sardars, that is Sikhs who are of Keshdhari ancestry, but choose to cut their hair, under certain circumstances, especially towards Western culture and fashions.

The five K's of sikhs

1. Kesh: uncut hair
2. Kangha: a wooden comb
3. Kara: a metal bracelet
4. Kachera: a specific style of cotton undergarments
5. Kirpan: a strapped curved sword