In a reply submitted before UT Civil Judge (Senior Division) B.C. Gupta on behalf of Justice Kuldip Singh, besides Brigadier Gurdip Singh and the secretary general of the WSC, the counsel also sought the dismissal of the application seeking stay on the appointment of the president.

Brar, besides Sandhu, in a civil suit had earlier sought directions for declaring the report on the amendment of the rules and regulations, and the memorandum of association, as "ineffective, illegal and against the registered memorandum of association of the WSC".

They had also sought directions for declaring Justice Kuldip Singh's appointment as "illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and null and void".

Today, terming the application as "vexatious, frivolous and instituted solely with a view to malign the highest authority of the Sikh Sabha", the application stated that the duo were not members of the executive committee, not even ordinary members of the Council.

Regarding their locus standi, the counsel elaborated that an ordinary Sikh or an advocate have no legal right to challenge the Council's functioning as it was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. "They have no right or interest in the administrative functioning of the Council," he added.

Refuting the allegations against the Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh of not possessing the powers to appoint the chairman-cum-president, he stated that the appointments were made in his capacity as a patron.

Further denying the allegations of the Council having Rs 10 lakh, he claimed that the accounts were yet to be handed over to the current president of the WSC. The existing funds were fully accounted for, it was added.

Also refuting the contention of the amended constitution not being in accordance with the bylaws, the counsel stated that the resolution to amend the constitution had been unanimously passed by the general body. The case will now come up on November 14.

It may be recalled that the plaintiffs, seeking directions to restrain Justice Kuldip Singh from acting as the president, had also demanded that he may be barred from collecting donations and membership fees in the name of the WSC.

Directions for restraining the Secretary General of the WSC to hand over the records and finances to the other respondents was also sought.