Tota Singh

Jathedar Tota Singh (2 March 1941 – 21 May 2022)^[1] was an Indian politician who belonged to the Shiromani Akali Dal. He was Minister for Agriculture & NRI Affairs in the previous Punjab Government.^[2] He was Senior Vice President and Member, High Power Committee of Shiromani Akali Dal. He was also a Member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. He also served as acting president of Shiromani Akali Dal after Surjit Singh Barnala when Barnala was appointed as Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1989.

His father's name was Babu Singh. He completed his school education from his village school and for further studies he joined DM college Moga.

He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1997 on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket from Moga.^[3] He was made Minister for Education in the Third Badal ministry during 1997–2002.^[4] He was re-elected from Moga in 2002.^[5] In 2012, he successfully contested from Dharamkot.^[6] He was cabinet minister and held portfolio of Agriculture & NRI Affairs.^[2] He also served at designation of Chairman Punjab Mandi Board 1985–1987 under Surjit Singh Barnala government. He was a continuous member of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandak Committee (known as Sikh Parliament) for many years. He also served as acting president of Shiromani Akali Dal after Surjit Singh Barnala when barnala was appointed as governor of Tamil Nadu in 1989.

In 2017, Singh contested the assembly election from Dharamkot Assembly Constituency but was defeated by Sukhjit Singh (INC) who succeeded Singh as the MLA from Dharamkot.^[7]

During his tenure as Education Minister (1997–2002), Tota Singh was accused of misusing the official vehicle of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), causing a financial loss to the institution. In May 2012, a Mohali court convicted him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹30,000. The court, however, acquitted him of disproportionate assets and misuse of the official telephone.^[8][9][10]

Tota Singh was implicated in a recruitment scam involving the appointment of 134 clerks to the PSEB during his time as education minister. In August 2018, a Mohali court acquitted him. However, four other officials, including selection committee members, were convicted for forgery and criminal conspiracy, receiving three-year sentences and fines.^[11][12]

In 2015, the Punjab Congress accused Tota Singh of involvement in a ₹33 crore "white fly" pesticide scam, alleging distribution of compromised chemicals to cotton farmers. A government inquiry cleared Tota Singh of wrongdoing while issuing show-cause notices to the agriculture department officials implicated.^[13][14]