Gurmat-Based Sikh Governance: Plain-Language Guide and FAQ — SGPC Trusteeship and Takht Independence

This is the plain-language companion to the working paper "Gurmat-Based Sikh Governance: SGPC Trusteeship and Takht Independence" (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18862194).

It does not issue hukam, Gurmatta, or any decision binding on the Panth. No proposition becomes binding by publication.

The guide is written for Sikhs worldwide, across many jurisdictions and institutional forms. It assumes no prior knowledge of the SGPC, the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, or the earlier PanthSeva papers.

Part A (Plain-language explainer) explains the problem, the proposed three-layer model, and the key reforms in straightforward English.

Part B (FAQ) answers the questions most commonly raised by committee members, elders, sevadars, lawyers, accountants, and diaspora Sikhs — including common objections, edge cases, and implementation questions.

The three core reforms addressed are:
(1) A trusteeship–sovereignty firewall — SGPC becomes trusteeship-only, barred from sovereignty actions.
(2) Takht independence protections — sovereignty roles cannot be hired or removed through payroll or statutory committee votes.
(3) A neutral integrity layer (PPO — Panthic Process Office) — for records, audits, evidence escrow, and appeals/review tracking.

A compact plain-language glossary and full references are included.

Non-negotiable constraint stated in the document: nothing in this guide authorises contempt, humiliation politics, denial of langar, exclusion from the Guru's darbar, or spiritual-rank enforcement.

Version 2.0 (updated plain-language companion), 9 March 2026.