Punjab & Haryana High Court Calls For Union’s Response On Plea Seeking Uniform Guidelines For Carrying ‘Kirpan’

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a response from the Union and State Governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the formulation of uniform guidelines governing the carrying of the ‘Kirpan’—a short sword or knife with a curved blade, worn as one of the five distinguishing signs of the Sikh Khalsa.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a PIL filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and a woman advocate, seeking the formulation and circulation of uniform regulatory guidelines to uphold the fundamental right of Sikhs to carry ‘Kirpan’ “as a mark of their faith in Sikh religion as enshrined in the Constitution.

One of the petitioners, Advocate Armanjot Kaur asserted in the plea that she was prevented from appearing in the recently conducted Rajasthan Judicial Services competitive examination. As per the petition, she had travelled to Jodhpur to take the exam, but on June 23, 2024, a Judicial Officer stationed at the entry point denied her access to the examination hall, despite her repeated explanations.

She explained the officer that the small ‘Kirpan’ she was wearing was an essential Kakaar for baptized Sikhs and that its use is protected under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. Nevertheless, her requests were disregarded, and she was not permitted to enter, it added.

The petition further stated that even after she approached a senior official—namely the Administrative Officer (Judicial) of the Rajasthan High Court—and submitted a written complaint, no corrective action was taken. Consequently, she was unable to appear for the examination, despite being otherwise fully eligible to do so.

Title: SHRIMONAI GURUDWARA PRABANDHAK COMMITTEE THROUGH S LAKHVIR SINGH AND ANOTHER V/S UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS