SGPC Welcomes Rajasthan’s Decision Reaffirming Sikh Students’ Right to Wear Religious Articles in Law Exams

In a significant move lauded by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Rajasthan government has officially reiterated its stance, allowing Sikh students to wear articles of faith, including the Kirpan, Kara, and Turban (Pagdi), while appearing for competitive and recruitment examinations, including law exams, across the state. This fresh directive, issued on July 29, comes in the wake of widespread outrage following an incident where a female Sikh student was reportedly denied entry to a Civil Judge recruitment examination in Jaipur on July 27 for carrying a Kirpan.

The incident involving Gurpreet Kaur, a candidate for the Rajasthan High Court Civil Judge examination, sparked condemnation from various Sikh religious and political bodies, including the Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, and SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami. They emphasized that denying entry on such grounds was a direct violation of constitutional rights under Article 25, which guarantees freedom of religion and explicitly permits Sikhs to wear the Kirpan.

Reaffirmation of an Existing Policy:

The recent directive from Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A Sawant clarifies and reinforces a similar circular issued by the previous administration in 2019. It explicitly instructs all exam-conducting bodies, including the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, and various departments (Technical and Higher Education, Medical Education, School Education, Director General of Police), to ensure that Sikh candidates are permitted to wear their religious symbols.

The directive acknowledges lapses in the effective compliance of the 2019 instructions, which led to the recent incident and subsequent "anger in the Sikh community." It also references a Delhi High Court ruling that allowed the carrying of religious items into exam centers, provided security protocols are met.

Balancing Religious Freedom with Security:

While upholding the religious sentiments and dignity of Sikh candidates, the Rajasthan government's directive also outlines practical guidelines for examination centers. It states that candidates wearing religious symbols may be instructed to report to the examination center an hour earlier for security checks. However, it unequivocally states that religious symbols should not be a ground for denial of entry unless a suspicious device is detected during screening.

SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami welcomed the government's prompt response but also called for special arrangements to allow affected Sikh candidates, like Gurpreet Kaur, an opportunity to reappear for the exam they missed. He further appealed to the central government to issue clear directives to all state governments to safeguard the constitutional rights granted to Sikhs and prevent such discriminatory practices in the future.

This reaffirmation by the Rajasthan government is a significant step towards ensuring inclusivity and protecting fundamental religious freedoms within the examination framework, setting a positive precedent for other states to emulate.