UK Prison Sikh Chaplaincy Service Criticized by Sikh Prisoners

This article has been updated 24/10/2014

OXFORDSHIRE, UK—A Sikh prisoner at HMP Huntercombe, a foreign national prison, has written a letter to the media exposing the incompetency in the running of the Sikh Chaplaincy in some UK prisons. The prisoner, Harpal Singh, makes strong accusations against the Sikh Minister that works at HMP Huntercombe and the Sikh Chaplaincy Service. 

Faith and Pastoral care is required in UK Prisons under a specific Prison Service Instruction (PSI), requiring a multi-faith team to both reflect and serve the religious make-up of the prison population. The 1952 Prisons Act enshrines the necessity for a Chaplain in the Prison in law. Prisons are directed to meet the faith and religious needs of prisoners, and address their pastoral needs through Chaplaincy provision. This includes the provision of weekly corporate worship for prisoners. Lord Indarjit Singh CBE is the Sikh Faith Advisor to NOMS (National Offender Management Service), a member of the Chaplaincy Council and the Director of the Sikh Chaplaincy Service which endorses Sikh Chaplains for prisons. 

Mr Inder Singh Chawla, the appointed Deputy Director of Sikh Chaplaincy Service and Sikh Minister for HMP Huntercombe, has been accused by the named prisoner for the following serious negligence and incompetency:

1. He is not Amritdhari (an initiated/practicing Sikh)
2. He disrespects his hair and colours/dyes his beard
3. He drinks alcohol
4. He eats meat and preaches Sikhs should eat meat when conducting religious services
5. He fails to provide a weekly religious service for corporate worship, and sometimes comes once a month to lead the Sikh service
6. He has asked the prison to stop Sikh prisoners buying Punjabi newspapers fearing that he will be exposed in the Punjabi media

Sikh24 emailed Lord Indarjit Singh for his response to this letter from the Sikh prisoner in order to provide the Sikh Chaplaincy Service with the opportunity to give their side of the story and respond to the serious accusations. However, Lord Indarjit Singh did not respond to any of our communications.

Serious questions arise from the Sikh prisoner’s letter which requires answers from Lord Indarjit Singh, the Sikh Faith Advisor and Director of Sikh Chaplaincy Service. The questions that were posed to Lord Indarjit Singh in an email sent to him by Sikh24 were: 

1. The role of a Minister of Religion is very important and involves preaching and acting a role model of the particular faith.  Why did the Sikh Chaplaincy Service endorse a non-Amritdhari to preach and carry out religious services on behalf of the Sikh community?  According to the 2014 published PSI (section: General Faith Provision), page 4: “1.3. All pre-appointment checks and security clearances must be in place before a Chaplain can commence work. All Chaplains must also have the endorsement of the relevant Faith Adviser prior to appointment. Some Chaplains may also need written permission (e.g. Licence) from their faith leader as a condition of appointment.” 

2. According to the Sikh Conduct of Conduct (Sikh Rehat Maryada, Chapter 12, Article 14) which the Sikh Chaplaincy Service claim to follow and advocate, dyeing or colouring one’s hair makes one a Thankhayia (reprimandable) and results in social boycott. If the Sikh Minister dyes his beard and is violating the Sikh Rehat Maryada, who has endorsed him and why has no action been taking against this chaplain? Does the Sikh Chaplaincy Service which you are the Director of have any directions and guidelines for Sikh Chaplains to adhere to? Which Maryada (religious code of conduct) is the Sikh Chaplaincy service and Sikh Chaplains instructed to follow?

3. Does Mr Chawla, the Deputy Director of Sikh Chaplaincy Service and prison Chaplain, drink any form of alcohol? If so, he is in breach of Sikh Rehat Maryada and a Patit, and what action will Sikh Chaplaincy Service be taking?

4. The propagation that Sikhs should eat meat is baseless and not supported by the Sikh Rehat Maryada and nor Gurbani.  Why is the Sikh Minister propagating the eating of meat in the religious services? Should the emphasis not be on Simran, Gurbani and encapsulating good virtues? Why is the chaplain raising controversial issues which are upsetting Sikh prisoners?

5. As the Director of Sikh Chaplaincy Service, were you aware that Sikh Services were not being conducted on a weekly basis at HMP Huntercombe, in violation of the Prisoner Service Instruction (PSI)?According to the 2014 published PSI (section: General Faith Provision), page 4: “1.2. (Where there is no Chaplain of a particular faith available to a prison the advice of the Regional Chaplain, Faith Adviser and/or Chaplaincy HQ should be sought.”

6. Mr Inder Singh Chawla has been accused of not helping the Punjabi prisoners get Punjabi newspapers when they are entitled to in accordance to the PSI and instead he has asked the papers to be stopped. What is your view about this?

7. On what basis and merit was Mr Chawla made the Deputy Director of Sikh Chaplaincy Service? What was the procedure and process for his appointment? What are the religious requirements for such a post?

 
Sikh24 has received a report of another Sikh prisoner from HMP Huntercombe who claims that he complained to the head of the Sikh Chaplaincy about the inadequate provision of Sikh chaplaincy and the incompetency of the Sikh Minister. The prisoner claims that he feels as a result of his complaint he was called to the Governor and put on adjudication and reprimanded by being put on basic conditions for a week. We have not been able to verify this with the prison in question. Other reports from prisoners from other prisons speak of similar deteriorating conditions of Sikh chaplaincy provision by inadequate Sikh chaplains and poor management from the Sikh Chaplaincy Service.

Sikh24 attempted to speak to a representative of HMP Huntercombe and Chaplaincy HQ to give their response to this letter. We were unable to get a response to this article from either of them. We have also received other complaints from members of the Sikh community in the UK whose friends or family are in prison and are complaining that there are “non-practicing (non-Amritdhari) Sikhs conducting Sikh services” and receiving pay for going to prisons but not fulfilling their roles as a chaplain and faith representative. 

On Wednesday 22nd October, a Prison Service spokesman from the Ministry of Justice told Sikh24 that: “All Sikh chaplains must meet strict faith-based eligibility requirements and be endorsed by our Sikh Faith Adviser.”