Sikkim High Court dismisses petition seeking restoration of Gurudwara at Gurudongmar

The issue over the shrine started in 2017, when local Buddhist people allegedly removed the religious items, including Guru Granth Sahib, from Gurdwara Guru Dongmar Sahib

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Ending the 6-year old dispute between the Sikhs and Buddhists over the alleged conversion of Gurdwara Guru Dongmar Sahib in Sikkim into a Buddhist shrine, the High Court of Sikkim dismissed the petition filed in 2017 by petitioner Sri Guru Singh Sabha and another, protesting the removal of Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book) and Nishan Sahib (flag) and other religious items from the Gurdwara at Gurudongmar in North Sikkim.
The court, in its judgment pronounced on October 10, dismissed the appeal after the state government’s closing arguments were presented by Zangpo Sherpa, the Additional Advocate General, on September 5 last.
The issue over the shrine started in 2017, when local Buddhist people allegedly removed the religious items, including Guru Granth Sahib, from Gurdwara Guru Dongmar Sahib. Later, the removed items were taken to Gurudwara at Chungthang as the petitioners felt it was disrespectful to their faith.
The petitioners then moved the Court against the Buddhists for removing the Guru Granth Sahib, thereby depriving the petitioners of their rights to conduct the religious rituals that were imperative preceding such removal.
They also alleged that the removal of the “Nishan Sahib,” which was flying at the same place, caused sacrilege to their place and articles of worship.
Further, the petitioner demanded immediate restoration of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Nishan Sahib, and fixing all internal furniture and other holy items in the Gurdwara premises at the Gurudongmar Lake as they were prior to August 16, 2017.
Meanwhile, Sonam Lama, Minister of Ecclesiastical Department expressed his happiness and thanked the High Court for the result in favour of the Buddhist people.

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