Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee announces takeover of Miri Piri Medical Institute

Kurukshetra: Amid an ongoing deadlock that has disrupted healthcare services at Shahabad's Miri Piri Institute of Medical Science and Research, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) has decided to take over management of the institute and asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to hand over possession within three days.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the HSGMC executive body in Kurukshetra. Following the meeting, the committee sent a formal communication to SGPC president Shri Harjinder Singh Dhami, seeking the transfer of the institute's management within the stipulated period.

The move comes after an 11-member HSGMC panel held consultations with various stakeholders, including representatives of the SGPC, in an effort to resolve the prolonged dispute surrounding the institute's administration.

Speaking after the meeting, HSGMC president Shri Jagdish Singh Jhinda said the executive body unanimously approved the proposal to take over the management of the medical institute. He stated that if the SGPC does not comply with the request within three days, the HSGMC will proceed with the takeover in accordance with the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, reports

Hindustan Times.

The management dispute comes amid an indefinite strike by doctors and other hospital staff, demanding payment of their pending salaries. The strike has adversely affected healthcare services at the institute.

Jhinda said that once the institute comes under the HSGMC's control, the hospital staff would become employees of the committee and their salary dues would be addressed. He also announced that another meeting of the executive body would be convened to discuss issues related to salary payments.

Referring to a May 12 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Jhinda said the court had directed that the SGPC should pay salaries for two months, while the HSGMC would be responsible for clearing one month's dues.

He further noted that the salary dispute is also scheduled to come up before the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission on July 28. Regardless of the outcome of those proceedings, the HSGMC reiterated its intention to take over the institute and stated that pending salaries would be cleared within 48 hours of assuming management.

The committee also appealed to the protesting doctors and hospital staff to resume their duties, although no response from the striking employees had been reported at the time of the announcement.