The Delhi High Court (HC) has issued a crucial directive to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), instructing the body to secure two significant properties in Shahdara, Delhi, and Bigar, Haryana. This decision aims to help clear the Rs 400 crore in pending dues owed to the employees of 12 schools under the Guru Harkrishan Public School (GHPS) Society.
In its ruling on May 2, 2025, Justice Anish Dayal emphasized that it is essential to safeguard these properties to ensure the funds are used to settle the outstanding payments. The properties, including 292 acres in Bigar and 15 acres in Shahdara, are considered valuable assets that could support the settlement of the dues, which stem from long-standing salary revisions and arrears. These amounts had been pending despite court orders dating back to 2021.
Background of the Legal Battle
The legal proceedings began when GHPS employees, including teachers, filed petitions in 2018, seeking pay revisions in accordance with the recommendations of the 6th and 7th Central Pay Commissions (CPC). In November 2021, the Delhi HC ruled in favor of the employees, ordering DSGMC to implement the pay scale revisions and to pay the associated arrears. The court set a deadline for the payments, including interest penalties for any delays beyond six months.
However, despite multiple court directions, DSGMC failed to comply with the payment orders, prompting the employees to file contempt petitions. In 2023, the Delhi HC acknowledged the “wilful disobedience” of the court’s previous orders and recommended that the Department of Education take action, including the potential appointment of an administrator to oversee the management of the schools.
Further Court Directions
In response to the ongoing failure to settle the dues, the court took a more assertive stance in February 2024, recognizing the financial mismanagement at DSGMC and the GHPS Society. The court underscored the contradiction between the Sikh community’s philanthropic values and the mistreatment of its teachers and staff, who were left without their rightful salaries.
As part of the remedy, the court appointed a forensic auditor to investigate the financial situation of the society, focusing on its income and expenditure, especially the rents collected from its properties. The court ordered that any rental income from DSGMC’s properties must be used to clear the outstanding dues.
Court’s Latest Directive on Property Securing
In its latest decision, the court directed DSGMC to refrain from alienating or creating encumbrances on the properties in question without prior court approval. This measure is aimed at ensuring that these valuable assets are preserved and cannot be sold or used for purposes other than settling the employees’ dues.
Impact on DSGMC and GHPS
This legal battle has raised concerns about the financial management of the DSGMC and the GHPS Society, questioning their ability to manage resources effectively while ensuring that staff members are paid on time. With the properties now under court oversight, the DSGMC is under pressure to comply with the order and fulfill its obligations.
The court’s decision to secure DSGMC’s properties marks an important step towards resolving this prolonged financial dispute and ensuring that the employees receive their due compensation.