“This case needs to be heard and the un-necessary wastage of donations must be put to a stop. It’s time to have these elections and their enrollments conducted in a fair, transparent and democratic manner so that proper management can take place. Until a fair and just system is implemented and followed – the cheating will continue and money wasted,” Sikh Sangat Society said.
VANCOUVER – Sikh Sangat Society, which has been dueling with the current Khalsa Diwan Society, Ross Street temple executive over election and voting procedures, will be filing new information and proceeding with the case in a two day hearing scheduled to start on April 22nd after correspondence between their lawyers and the document review ongoing for many months.
The case may face further delays.
It appears that the Ross executive is “anxious for the new Executive to take office” as their lawyer’s letter is stating, according to Sikh Sangat members.
“This is the same non-elected, self appointed, and claimed as having run un-opposed Executive that the court shot down last year. The case was initially to be heard in December 2014 in a one day, as requested by Sikh Sangat, hearing but the Ross executive challenged for a full week trial,” said Sikh Sangat in a press release.
The case was to be heard at the end of February with the old committee being ordered by the court to stay on until the case was resolved. However, the case was again delayed in February when another extension was sought by the Ross executive sitting lawyer date un-availability and a new date was set. Now it appears this case might yet be faced with more delays.
“The delayed tactics are not to resolve this mess but to continue in the same manner and make it more difficult for us financially. We are paying from our pockets but they are using the donations. We challenge them to pay for their lawyers bills from their own pockets. Then everyone will see how fast this case will be resolved. Everything could have been resolved in one day way back in December but its being dragged on,” Sikh Society representative said.
The review of hundreds of pages of documentation, that includes membership forms and receipt books, has taken a great deal of time. There have been new discoveries of a process that is not transparent or fair. Once everything is filed, a response will be necessary and thus the long awaited hearing can begin.
“Unfortunately, it seems that they will seek adjournment of the hearing to a later date in a possible attempt to install their new un-elected committee once again. Prolonging the case will only add to the cost and benefit only those in power as they will continue to keep control. The election is nowhere in sight as long as the case is forced to drag on,” they said.
“This case needs to be heard and the un-necessary wastage of donations must be put to a stop. It’s time to have these elections and their enrollments conducted in a fair, transparent and democratic manner so that proper management can take place. Until a fair and just system is implemented and followed – the cheating will continue and money wasted,” Sikh Sangat Society said.
