Jathedar of Akal Takht
The Jathedar of the Akal Takht () is the appointed head of the Akal Takht and the Sikhs of the world. Sikh clergy consists of five Jathedars, one each from five Takhts. Originally known as Akal Bunga, the building directly opposite the Darbar Sahib was built by Guru Hargobind as a place of justice and consideration of temporal issues; the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa and the place of the Jathedar, the highest spokesman of the Sikhs. Origin. In 1606, after the execution of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji bearing  the two swords of politics (miri) and spirituality (piri), declared himself sovereign, and defied the royal edict of the Mugal empire. Recognising the necessity of coordinating efforts against the Mughal empire, the Guru simultaneously began the process of militarising the Sikhs. The first hukamnama issued from Akal Takht commanded the Sikhs to offer arms and horses. Before leaving Amritsar for imprisonment, Guru Hargobind assigned the original scribe of Guru Granth Sahib, Bhai Gurdas as the custodian of Akal Takht, and instructed him to act jointly with Baba Buddha as the representative of the Sikhs. Following the establishment of the Khalsa  Panth, which took effect on 13 April 1699, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji sent Bhai Mani Singh Ji and five other Khalsas to Amritsar with instructions to take possession of the Darbar Sahib complex. The Khalsas assigned Mani Singh as the Head Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib and the Jathedar of Akal Takht. After the passing of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Sikh divisions accepted the common leadership and sovereignty of Akal Takht. Selection process. During the 18th and 19th century, Jathedars of Akal Takht were appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a biannual deliberative assembly of the Sikhs held at  Amritsar, Punjab. From 1921, "Jathedars" of Takhts have been appointed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an elected body of the Sikhs controlled by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a political party in the state of Punjab. A Sarbat Khalsa convened by Sikh organisations in 2015 appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as the Jathedar of Akal Takht. The SGPC president at that time, Avtar Singh Makkar, however condemned the convening as against the principles of Sikhism and it's decisions null and void. He added that the removal of Jathedars came under Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and no one could challenge the  SGPC's authority.