Adherence to the Sikh Rehat Maryada isn’t about heavy-handed punishment so much as community-led correction, designed to guide back onto the straight path with dignity. When a breach of conduct crops up—whether it’s skipping daily Nitnem, engaging in intoxicants, or disrespecting the Guru Granth Sahib—the following steps typically unfold under the watch of the local Gurdwara committee:

1. Gentle Reminder and Counsel
   A friendly nudge often kicks things off. Elders or sangat members may privately point out the lapse, suggesting steps like reforging one’s connection through extra paath (scripture reading) or attending kirtan sessions more regularly. Sometimes a heart-to-heart chat during langar offers enough course correction.

2. Formal Warning by Gurdwara Committee
   If informal guidance doesn’t stick, the committee issues a formal notice. This might come with a request to appear before the sangat and express repentance through Ardas, accompanied by recitation of specific banis—Rahit Maryada leans on personal reflection over public shaming.

3. Temporary Suspension of Privileges
   Continued disregard can lead to a brief removal of certain community rights. Typical measures include barring from volunteering in the langar kitchen, leading kirtan, or performing seva at the palki sahib. The idea isn’t exclusion forever, but to underscore how seriously the sangat values discipline.

4. Ceremony of Re-acceptance
   Once corrective actions—such as completing a set number of paaths, contributing seva, or attending Sikh educational classes—are fulfilled, a small re-acceptance ceremony can restore full privileges. This ritual underscores forgiveness and fresh starts, much like spring rains washing away last season’s dust.

5. Excommunication (Takk) in Extreme Cases
   Reserved for sacrilege—desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib or sustained, flagrant violations—takk functions as a last resort. It’s rare, and the doors to reconciliation remain ajar: abiding by the committee’s conditions (public apology, seva commitments) eventually leads to lifting the sanction.

Across Punjab today, Gurdwara committees are adapting these principles with digital trackers and WhatsApp groups to follow up gently—proof that timeless wisdom can roll with the punches of modern life. The emphasis never wavers: discipline is a bridge back to community and spirit, not a cudgel to keep people down.