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Founded in the late 1990s, the NRI Sabha Punjab plays a vital role in connecting overseas Punjabis with the state
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Members warn that unless elections are held promptly and transparently, the credibility of the institution will continue to erode, weakening its ability to serve the NRI community effectively
The failure to announce elections to the NRI Sabha Punjab has pushed the state’s only statutory body for Non-Resident Indians into a serious governance crisis. The two-year term of its president, Parvinder Kaur Australia, ended on January 4, but no election schedule has been issued so far, creating a leadership vacuum and raising concerns among members.
Under the Sabha’s Constitution, the election process must begin at least 90 days before the expiry of the president’s term. Since this did not happen, members say elections cannot be held before April 2026 even if a schedule is announced immediately.
With nearly 23,000 registered members, the NRI Sabha is meant to act as a democratic platform to address NRI grievances and support Punjab’s social and economic development. However, the absence of elected leadership has reportedly made the body ineffective
Members have also flagged allegations of administrative paralysis, lack of transparency, and violations of constitutional norms during the outgoing president’s tenure. These include the alleged failure to form key committees, hold Annual General Meetings, and share regular financial statements. Requests for financial details under the Right to Information Act were also allegedly ignored.
The issue has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a petition filed by member Karan Randhawa. An affidavit submitted by the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner, who is also the Sabha’s chairman, stated that the election process had been initiated and approval sought from the Chief Minister. While the court recorded this assurance, no poll notification has been issued yet, prompting members to question the delay.
