‘Khalistan Boards’ At UK Gurdwara Not A Breach Of Political Guidance: Charity Watchdog

Last Updated:August 08, 2025, 14:11 IST

A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules.

Khalistan Board in UK gurudwara not a brech of guidance, says watchdog (Image: Representative)

The watchdog for the charity sector in the United Kingdom on Thursday said that its ongoing investigation into the UK gurudwara governance had determined that displaying “Khalistan boards" did not breach the political guidance for charities functioning in the country.

A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules.

As part of governance concerns, the independent watchdog was asked to review the “complex and sensitive" issue of Khalistan banners or plaques being displayed at the gurdwara.

“After a number of governance concerns were raised with us about Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, we opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these and engage with the trustees," a Charity Commission spokesperson said, news agency PTI reported.

“As part of this case, a complex and sensitive matter was raised regarding the display of ‘Khalistan boards’. Following substantial review of evidence and consultation with a number of sector representatives and stakeholders, we have determined the display of the boards in itself not to be in breach of our campaigning and political guidance for charities," the spokesperson added.

The commission said that while its case is “still ongoing," in December 2024 it gave the charity a “Regulatory Action Plan" requiring the trustees to take certain steps to improve how the charity is run and managed.

“As part of our monitoring work, we have now removed several actions due to sufficient progress being made on these," the spokesperson said.

Officials said it was decided that “Khalistan" has both a religious meaning and, for some, a political meaning. Since the gurdwara’s banners did not promote separatism or call for a political state, it was concluded that the charity was acting within its religious purpose.

(With PTI inputs)

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First Published:

August 08, 2025, 14:09 IST

News world ‘Khalistan Boards’ At UK Gurdwara Not A Breach Of Political Guidance: Charity Watchdog

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