Sikh Temple Association Election To Go Ahead.

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - Mr. Justice Glen Parrett today gave the go ahead for an election  of the  new executive of the Guru Gobind Singh Temple Association in Prince George.

The election is slated for tomorrow, but  was being challenged by some members of the  Indo Canadian community.

Justice Parrett says it's too late  not to  go ahead with the election "I don’t see a lot of hope in resolving this issue" said Mr. Justice Parrett. "You have been before the courts since 1994 and to come to the court at this late hour to try and stop an election is an example of how poorly this matter has been handled."

In his court order, Justice Parrett appointed Rod Holmes to oversee the election. He also said that all of the ballots from tomorrow’s election will be sealed and not counted until such time as the matter of whether  yet a further court action is launched ,is dealt with.

"You already have held an advance poll, how can we now say that no election shall take place?" asked  Justice Parrett.

Outside of the court room, members of both sides in the dispute say the latest matter to come to court has cost $25,000 dollars in legal fees alone much less the split in the Temple's attendees. That legal costs for this latest round have been  added to the hundreds of thousands that have been spent in legal fees going back to 1994.

"There are about 3,000 people in the city of East Indian descent" one person said "and with two temples in the city it's hard to believe that we can keep fighting over what?"  He said, there is no money involved in the office they are seeking election to. Just power. "The two factions have been fighting in court since 1994 and nothing has been resolved" he said.

"All of that money wasted on legal fees could have been donated to something worthwhile,  the efforts to help those hit by the earthquake for one" said one Temple attendee.

Justice Parrett said, "I will not postpone the election, but pending what happens with respect to other actions that may come before this court the ballots will remained sealed until that time . "

Those who opposed the election made allegations of  membership irregularities, inappropriate handling of election nominations, Temple bannishment,  and at least two  events which resulted in physical altercations.

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