CHANDIGARH, Punjab—On a petition filed by an Amritdhari Sikh named Dilawar Singh who was denied permission to wear his Kirpan in a Court by Ambala session judge Rajesh Gupta, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday took action with immediate effect by issuing notice to the state through home secretary.
It is worth mentioning that the Sikh youth was to record his statement in a murder case in Ambala court but district session judge did not allow him permission to enter the court as he was wearing a Kirpan. He was asked to remove the kirpan, but latter refused to do so provided it as his constitutional right. Following which, the Sikh youth filed a petition against the act of the Ambala judge through Advocate Navkiran Singh terming it as violation of religious freedom provided by the constitution.
Justice Augustine George Masih issued notice for May 12 on the petition filed by Dilawar Singh of Kainth Majri village in Ambala district. The petitioner claimed he was an important witness in the murder case registered at the Ambala City police station in December last year, as he had accompanied the victim to the hospital.
Various Sikh organizations have condemned the act of the judge and said that they complained against other countries for imposing on ban on religious signs including ‘Kirpan’ but it is gravely shameful that Sikhs have to face such kind of restriction in India also.
In a statement, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar termed the incident quite unfortunate and violation of fundamental rights of Sikhs. He sought investigation in the case and action against the judge.
