The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has issued a legal notice to the Gurbani Television Channel (GTC) for allegedly broadcasting live Gurbani Kirtan from Sri Darbar Sahib without the committee’s authorization. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami asserted on Tuesday that all broadcasting rights for Gurbani exclusively rest with the SGPC, deeming GTC’s actions illegal.
The Chenab Times has learned that GTC had communicated to the SGPC through a letter, indicating its intention to commence live telecasting of Gurbani Kirtan. This decision was reportedly influenced by a statement from a spokesperson of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which suggested that permission for Gurbani telecasts had been broadly granted. According to Dhami, GTC cited this statement to justify their commencement of the live broadcast from Wednesday morning.
Dhami further alleged that GTC had begun broadcasting Gurbani by intercepting the SGPC’s signal from YouTube and relaying it on their satellite channel, circumventing the necessary approval processes. “This is illegal. We have not granted any such permission,” Dhami stated, confirming that a legal notice has been served to the channel. He added that further legal actions would be pursued as mandated by law.
Clarifying the current broadcasting arrangements, the SGPC President specified that only PTC Television has been officially authorized by the committee to telecast Gurbani from Sri Darbar Sahib. He noted that the SGPC had not received any applications for similar broadcasting permissions from GTC or any other television channel. Dhami emphasized that no entity can unilaterally claim such broadcasting rights, stating, “Had GTC or any other broadcaster approached the SGPC, the matter could have been considered. No one can assume such rights on their own.”
Providing context on the broadcasting rights, Dhami recalled that the SGPC had terminated its prior agreement with PTC in 2023. Following this termination, the SGPC had relinquished its right to collect the previously agreed annual payment of Rs 2 crore. Since then, the SGPC has been exclusively managing the live-streaming of Gurbani through its official YouTube and Facebook platforms.
This shift in broadcasting strategy was initiated in response to directives from the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The aim was to ensure that devotees who may not have access to online platforms are not deprived of listening to Gurbani through television broadcasts.
Dhami further elaborated on the SGPC’s efforts to secure official satellite telecast rights. He mentioned that the committee’s executive committee had previously invited tenders from various broadcasters. The lowest bid received was for Rs 12 lakh per month, totaling Rs 1.44 crore annually. Subsequently, PTC volunteered to provide the telecast service free of charge, which they have been doing since then.
In line with the Akal Takht Jathedar’s directions, the SGPC has also begun the process of launching its own satellite television channel. Representatives from the committee have reportedly visited New Delhi on two occasions to pursue this objective. However, Dhami pointed out that current regulations from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting do not permit the issuance of a satellite television license to a religious institution.
“We are continuing our efforts to resolve the issue. Until the SGPC launches its own satellite channel, the telecast rights remain with SGPC. It is solely the SGPC’s prerogative to decide which channel will be granted these rights free of cost. No broadcaster can acquire these rights merely by sending a letter and starting telecast on its own,” Dhami asserted.
Commenting on recent discussions in the Punjab Assembly, Dhami expressed his disappointment that legislators had focused on the SGPC’s affairs rather than addressing pressing public issues within the state. He suggested that the Assembly should prioritize holding the government accountable for its performance, rather than concentrating on the internal matters of the SGPC.
The Chenab Times News Desk