GTC Network temporarily suspends Gurbani broadcast following SGPC legal notice

The controversy has once again brought the issue of access to Gurbani broadcasts and control over telecast and digital streaming rights into focus

by e4m Staff
Published: Aug 9, 2026 4:18 PM | 2 min read

GTC Network has suspended its live broadcast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) regarding unauthorized re-streaming of its official feed.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami stated that broadcast rights to Gurbani are exclusively held by the committee, and no entity is allowed to re-stream or upload content without formal authorization.
In response to the SGPC's legal notice, GTC Network's Founder Dr. Rabindra Narayan appealed for a more lenient approach, emphasizing the network's intention to serve devotees without commercial interests.
The incident has reignited discussions about access to Gurbani broadcasts and the control over telecast and digital streaming rights, with GTC Network awaiting a response to its appeal from the SGPC.

GTC Network has temporarily suspended the live broadcast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over the alleged unauthorised re-streaming of its official feed.

SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami has maintained that the broadcast rights to Gurbani are exclusively reserved with the committee. He said no channel or digital platform is permitted to re-stream or upload the content without formal authorisation from the SGPC.

The committee subsequently issued a legal notice to GTC Network, prompting the channel to halt its Gurbani relay.

Responding to the development, GTC Network Founder and Managing Director Dr Rabindra Narayan made a public appeal to the SGPC, urging it to adopt a liberal approach and allow the network to resume the broadcast for the global Sikh Sangat.

Dr Narayan said the initiative was intended solely to propagate Gurbani and serve devotees, without any commercial or vested interest.

He added that the suspension of the evening broadcast had caused distress among devotees worldwide. According to him, more than 1,000 other platforms were also sharing the SGPC’s official feed, raising questions about why legal action had been initiated specifically against GTC Network.

Dr Narayan said the network had immediately respected the SGPC’s objections by stopping the relay. He appealed to the committee to permit its resumption while assuring that the broadcast would continue with complete religious decorum and adherence to Maryada.

The controversy has once again brought the issue of access to Gurbani broadcasts and control over telecast and digital streaming rights into focus. GTC Network is awaiting the SGPC’s response to its appeal.