SDI v UI COMPLAINT SUMMARY SDI's revised complaint alleging illegal acts the Defendants engaged in, and SDI's request for relief.
SDW LEGAL CONTRIBUTION FORM Sikh Dharma WorldWide is intended to serve as an independent and protected vehicle for tax-deductible contributions that will be dedicated to the continuance and support of the legacy of Sikh Dharma, the Sikh Dharma Ministry and the International Khalsa Council, as established by the Siri Singh Sahib. It is independent of any other other SDI affiliates and not under control of either Unto Infinity (UI) or the Sikh Dharma Stewardship (SDS).
SDW LEGAL FUND GIVING LEVELS The official giving levels given in this document are for substantial contributions to the Legal Fund, as needed to fund our efforts. But, as an aside, the judge will be looking for numbers of supporters, not cash amounts, so, please give whatever you can afford, even a dollar a month! And couples, give independently to increase our numbers. A thousand people shows more support than a million dollars.
SDI v UI Background
The Siri Singh Sahib was the Chief Religious and Administrative Authority of Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere. In that capacity he oversaw the whole network of non-profit and for-profit entities that make up the global Sikh Dharma community.
When the Siri Singh Sahib planned the structure that would exist after his passing, he created a number of new entities and modified some existing ones. The most significant change was made in May 2003 when the Siri Singh Sahib created Unto Infinity, LLC (UI), an Oregon Limited Liability Company to serve as the Chief Administrative Authority of the Sikh Dharma community. At that time he vested Chief Religious Administrative Authority of the Sikh Dharma community in the Sikh Sikhdar Sahiba and Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma International (SDI).
The Board of Directors of UI (UIB) is comprised of Kartar Singh (OR), Periam Kaur (OR), Siri Karm Kaur (NM), and Sopurkh Kaur (OR). It was originally comprised as a panj that included the current UIB members as well as Siri Ram Kaur (MA). At some point after the Siri Singh Sahib's passing Siri Ram Kaur was removed from the UIB for unspecified reasons. There have no other changes in UIB membership.
When UI was initially formed it became the "Member" (essentially the "owner") of SDI, and as such played a role in the governance of SDI with respect to approval of the composition of its Board of Directors. UI also became the Member for most of the other non-profit and for-profit entities created by the Siri Singh Sahib. However, UI was not created to be the "first among equals" among all the organizations and entities in the structure created by the Siri Singh Sahib. Above UI the Siri Singh Sahib placed the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation (SSSC), an Oregon non-profit religious corporation he created in 1997. SSSC is the the Member (essentially the "owner") of UI.
The Siri Singh Sahib originally planned that upon his death SSSC would be comprised of a board that included the UIB members, the Siri Sikhdar Sahiba and Bhai Sahiba of SDI, and other devout members of the Sikh Dharma community. If this had come to pass, the ultimate parent entity, and by extension the entire Sikh Dharma community, would have been governed by a balanced body that combined both the Chief Religious and Chief Administrative Authorities together, much as the Siri Singh Sahib had been before his passing. However, it is believed that shortly after the Siri Singh Sahib's death the UIB manipulated the process to populate this board so that they became the only board members of SSSC. In this way, they eliminated the system of checks and balances that the Siri Singh envisioned and intended for UI and the Sikh Dharma community.
Since the Siri Singh Sahib's passing in 2004, UI has created several new entities, changing the structure established by the Siri Singh Sahib. Most recently, in January 2009, the UIB formed a new entity, Sikh Dharma Stewardship, LLC (SDS), an Oregon Limited Liability Company, and appointed a five member Board of Directors of SDS. UI is the Member (essentially the "owner") of SDS, and as such plays a role in overseeing and approving the actions undertaken by SDS. Although UI is SDI's legal Member of record, UI apparently delegated to SDS, as a management committee for UI, the responsibility and oversight of the Chief Administrative Authority of SDI and its affiliates, Sikh Dharma Education (SDEI) and SikhNet.
In March 2009, the Khalsa Council invited the UIB members to attend the April 2009 meetings. In April 2009 the UIB members wrote the Khalsa Council declining the invitation and disclosed that they were no longer practicing the Sikh Dharma teachings and lifestyle as taught by the Siri Singh Sahib. In a straw poll conducted at the April 2009 Khalsa Council meetings, a majority of the members present strongly endorsed the position that only Khalsa Sikhs (those living in accordance with the Siri Singh Sahib's teachings) should be in the highest leadership positions of the Sikh Dharma community. A majority of those present expressed no confidence in the UIB and demanded their resignation. A majority of those present also endorsed the position that SDS was illegitimate and its directors should resign. The response of UIB, UI and SDS was to reject and ignore the expressed sentiments of the Khalsa Council.
Following the April 2009 Khalsa Council meetings, a grassroots group of individual Sangat members began looking into legal remedies for the harm that had been done to the global Sikh Dharma community and that been coming to light in late 2008 and early 2009. The SDI Board also brought serious concerns about the governance of SDI arising from actions undertaken by SDS in Phoenix, AZ to the attention of UI and in response was threatened with removal and defunding. During that time the SDI Board also learned of actions by the UIB that appeared to breach their fiduciary duty to the Sikh Dharma community.
Among the actions by UIB that have come to light are:
Changing the bylaws of UI and SSSC to effectively remove the system of checks and balances intended and established by the Siri Singh Sahib, thereby giving themselves absolute authority with no oversight over the organizations and entities that have been created to serve the Sikh Dharma community.
Changing the bylaws of UI and SSSC to remove the eligibility requirements intended and established by the Siri Singh Sahib for leadership positions in the organization and entities that serve the Sikh Dharma community.
Significantly increasing salaries and benefits for themselves while eliminating many positions in the non-profit and for-profit entities for the purpose of "cost cutting."
Diverting assets and funds intended for the use and benefit of the Sikh Dharma community to themselves and others for personal use and benefit.
Depriving family members and staff of the Siri Singh Sahib from enjoying royalty income intended for their support after his death by removing references to Yogi Bhajan from the packaging of Yogi Tea and Peace Cereal.
Drastically reducing the collective funding the various non-profits received from the for-profits from approximately $7 million per year (2004) to approximately $1.2 million per year (2009).
Eliminating funding for SDI programs, operations and staff.
Attempting the forced removal of SDI board members, officers and staff.
Attempting the forced removal of the Bhai Sahiba and the Siri Sikhdar Sahiba from SDI.
Because of these actions and in response to pleas for action on their part from the global Sangat, the SDI Board filed a complaint in Oregon Court on September 21, 2009 against UIB, UI, SDS and SSSC asking the court to remove the UIB, dissolve the SDS and compel the UIB and other unknown individuals to repay and restore the assets and monies they have wrongfully taken from any of the Sikh Dharma family of companies. The Plaintiffs are Avtar Hari Singh (NM), Hari Dharam Kaur (NM) and S. Guru Amrit Kaur (Siri Sikhdar Sahiba/NM). The Defendants are the UIB members: Kartar Singh (OR), Siri Praim Kaur (OR), Siri Karm Kaur (NM) and So Purkh Kaur (OR), UI, SDS, SSSC and other unknown defendants who may surface during discovery.
