The Punjab and Haryana High Court has intensified its scrutiny into the whereabouts of priceless religious texts and historical artifacts allegedly seized during Operation Blue Star in 1984. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Ramesh Kumari on Monday issued formal notices to the Indian Army, the Central Government, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), seeking a definitive account of items removed from the Golden Temple complex four decades ago.
The court’s directions come in response to a petition filed by Satinder Singh, a Ludhiana resident and devout Sikh, who is seeking the full disclosure and restoration of manuscripts, books, and articles taken from the Sikh Reference Library, Toshakhana, Central Sikh Museum, and Guru Ramdas Library during the military action.
Operation Blue Star was a significant military operation conducted between June 1 and June 10, 1984, aimed at removing armed militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple premises in Amritsar.
While the legal plea was originally filed in 2019, the High Court initially only issued a notice to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). However, the scope of the inquiry has now broadened significantly following the SGPC’s submissions in subsequent hearings. The committee informed the court that while some items had been returned, several significant articles remain in the possession of central agencies, including the CBI and the Army.
The petitioner has urged the court to direct the preparation of comprehensive lists detailing:
- Every manuscript, artifact, and piece of literature removed from the complex on June 7, 1984.
- All items that have been officially returned to the SGPC to date.
The plea emphasizes that these historical and religious treasures belong in their original repositories—the Central Sikh Museum, the Toshakhana, and the temple libraries. Furthermore, the petitioner argues that these items should be made accessible to the public for “darshan,” academic research, and reading.
During Monday’s proceedings, the High Court directed the Union of India, the Army, and the CBI to file their respective replies. The respondents must clarify whether they are currently in possession of the disputed articles and provide a status update on the inventory.
The case highlights a long-standing grievance within the Sikh community regarding the preservation and return of heritage materials believed to have been lost or displaced during the 1984 events.
