AMRITSAR, Feb. 27 -- The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday retired former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh from the post of head granthi of Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), days after he levelled corruption and wrongdoing allegations against the gurdwara body and the Shiromani Akali Dal. The post of head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib is revered by the Sikhs since it was once held by Baba Budha Ji, a contemporary of the Sikh Gurus. Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the SGPC executive committee, announced the decision on Thursday after a special meeting of the committee. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dhami said Giani Raghbir Singh held a press conference on February 18, and levelled allegations against the SGPC administration, defaming the institution. The committee decided on February 19 that the Giani be given a 72-hour notice to prove his allegations. But, he failed to provide any proof within the stipulated time, and instead continued raising administrative questions in violation of service rules, Dhami said. "Additionally, it was noted that he [the head Granthi] had not been regularly performing his morning and evening religious duties at Sri Harmandir Sahib, which was an injustice to the respected and responsible position he held. Keeping all these factors in view, the Executive Committee decided to retire him from service," Dhami said. During his February 18 press conference, the head granthi accused the Badal family of "grievously hurting" Sikh religious sentiments for political gains and called for a Sarbat Khalsa (a deliberative assembly of the Sikhs) to "liberate" the SGPC from the "clutches of Badals". On the 72-hour ultimatum, the head Granthi on February 22 gave the gurdwara body a counter-ultimatum and said that either the SGPC chief would respond to the questions raised by him or he would make "disclosures before sangat". Raghbir Singh was removed as Akal Takht jathedar by the SGPC executive committee in March last year but he continued to serve as the head granthi of the Golden Temple....