The jathedar of Akal Takht is the head of Akal Takht, and the international representative of the Sikhs. Originally known as Akal Bunga, the building directly opposite Darbar Sahib was built by Guru Hargobind as a place of justice and consideration of temporal issues; the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa and the podium of the jathedar of Akal Takht, the most senior spokesperson of the Sikhs. In the absence of Jagtar Singh Hawara, Dhian Singh Mand and Harpreet Singh are the interim acting jathedars of Akal Takht.
Origin
In 1606, after the execution of Guru Arjan, Guru Hargobind, bearing the two swords of politics and spirituality, declared himself sovereign, and defied the royal edict of the Mugal empire. Recognising the necessity of coordinating efforts against the Mughal empire, the Guru simultaneously began the process of militarising the Sikhs. The first hukamnama issued from Akal Takht commanded the Sikhs to offer arms and horses. Before leaving Amritsar for imprisonment, Guru Hargobind assigned the original scribe of Guru Granth Sahib, Bhai Gurdas as the custodian of Akal Takht, and instructed him to act jointly with Baba Buddha as the representative of the Sikhs. Following the establishment of the Khalsa, which took effect on 13 April 1699, Guru Gobind Singh sent Mani Singh and five other Khalsas to Amritsar with instructions to take possession of the Darbar Sahib complex. The Khalsas assigned Mani Singh as the head granthi of Darbar Sahib and the jathedar of Akal Takht. After the passing of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh divisions accepted the common leadership and sovereignty of Akal Takht.
Selection process
During the 18th and 19th centuries, jathedars of Akal Takht were appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a biannual deliberative assembly of the Sikhs held at Amritsar. From 1921, jathedars have been appointed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, an elected body of the Sikhs. A Sarbat Khalsa convened by Sikh organisations in 2015 appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as the jathedar of Akal Takht. At the time, former SGPC president, Avtar Singh Makkar, condemned the convening as against the principles of Sikhism and it's decisions null and void. He added that the removal of jathedars came under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925 and no one could challenge the SGPC's authority.
