GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 8

The SGPC is seeking legal opinion and roping in experts to decide on initiating an out-of-court settlement in the Operation Bluestar damages case against the Centre.

Holding the Centre liable for damage to the shrine, the SGPC is demanding Rs 1,000-crore in compensation from the Delhi High Court. While a court fee of Rs 10 crore was deposited in June 2013, the case is still on 36 years after the incident.

In 2019, the court had proposed to both parties to settle it amicably, but the SGPC has not yet decided on accepting the proposal.

SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said the compensation was symbolic and that no amount of money could bring succour to the loss borne by the community.

“The court has proposed to initiate settlement amicably outside its purview, but we are taking legal opinion and consulting with Sikh scholars before taking any step,” she said.

The sole aim of filing the suit and seeking compensation was to make the Centre admit to the fact that the attack on the shrine was unjustified. SGPC chief secretary Harjinder Singh Dhami said: “Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we could not follow it up. I am going through the files. After scrutinising the court directions, we will be in a position to decide whether to go for amicable settlement or not,” he said.