Sukhbir is the latest in the long Sikh list of people to be declared ‘Tankhaiya’.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today joins a long list of people found guilty of tankhaiya, or religious misconduct, by the Sikhs’ highest secular seat, the Akal Takht.

Ironically, in April 2017, the Akal Takht had already declared more than three dozen Sikh political leaders from the Congress and the Akali Dal as “Tankhaiya” for seeking votes from the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda – among them – in the Punjab assembly elections Akali leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra and Sikandar Singh Maluka.

Both Rakhra and Maluka are now in the “rebel” camp against Badal. And a prominent accusation against Sukhbir by the rebel group is that he orchestrated the pardon of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for political reasons.

Nevertheless, all these leaders appeared before the Akal Takht this morning, which instructed them to perform seva in gurdwaras, sweep the road to the shrines, wash the parikrama of the Golden Temple, clean shoes, clean toilets and listen to kirtan.

Sukhbir Badal is not alone with his punishment today.

Back in 1979, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, a former president of the Akali Dal and later president of the SGPC, was declared a ‘tankhaiya’ for failing to follow the Akal Takht’s orders in uniting the various Akali factions. Talwandi later apologized and atone for his mistake.

When the Army invaded the Golden Temple as part of Operation Blue Star in 1984, then President Giani Zail Singh and Union Minister Buta Singh were declared “Tankhaiya” for their alleged roles in carrying out the operation. Zail Singh was pardoned on the basis of a written apology, but Buta Singh was excommunicated. Ten years later he asked for forgiveness.

Then, in 1986, after police chased away pro-Khalistan terrorists who had returned to the Golden Temple, former Punjab chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala was declared a “tankhaiya” for sending policemen back to the temple had. Five years later, he presented himself before the Sikh clergy and was forced to repent by performing a 21-day “sewa” in the communal kitchen at the shrine, which included cleaning pilgrims’ shoes and washing utensils. Barnala was pardoned and welcomed back into the Sikh family.

In 2009, former Jathedar of Akal Takht Prof. Darshan Singh Khalsa “Raagi” was declared a “Tankhaiya” and excommunicated a year later. Prof. Darshan Singh, a well-known Kirtani (hymn reciter), was charged with blasphemy during a public discourse in the US.

In May 2014, former finance minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia had sparked a blasphemy row after he was accused of adulterating a Sikh anthem while campaigning for BJP candidate Arun during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Amritsar Jaitley had campaigned. Majithia appeared before Akal Takht and asked for an apology. To repent, he washed utensils and shined shoes in the Golden Temple before being forgiven.

Similarly, former Akali cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah was excommunicated after an alleged scandalous video of him went viral in 2017. Although he was acquitted by a court in 2018, he was only pardoned by the Akal Takht after he apologized in 2022.

What is Tankhaiya?

“Tankhaiya” means that a person is found guilty of religious misconduct. It is pronounced from the highest Sikh temporal seat, the Akal Takht, by the Jathedar. If a Sikh violates the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) or indulges in anti-panthic activities, the Jathedar of Akal Takht has the power to declare him a “Tankhaiya”. Thereafter, the accused must appear before the Akal Takht amidst Sikh Sangat and publicly apologize for his “mistakes”. Then the punishment will be decided accordingly by the Jathedar in consultation with the five high priests.

What punishment will be imposed?

If anyone apologizes after being declared a ‘Tankhaiya’, his punishment will be announced by the Jathedar. It is the Jathedar’s prerogative to decide where the punishment should be served.

Punishment may include “Sewa”, including cleaning shoes in the “Joda Ghar” or washing dishes in the langar hall of one of the five takhts or any other Sikh shrine. After completing the punishment, the title “Tankhaiya” is removed.