VOLUNTEER DONATE SUBSCRIBE Published: 16th March 2018

Turbanator moves the Supreme Court for Turban rights

Translation of this newsletter in Panjabi

"On behalf of the entire turbaned cycling community, I am very thankful to the whole legal team of UNITED SIKHS for taking up this case. I remember the day when I was not allowed to participate in a cycling event unless I remove my turban and sport a helmet. The pain and frustration experienced at that time was heartfelt and compassionately handled by UNITED SIKHS, who engaged Senior Advocate Rupinder Singh Suri to take up my legal battle for the Right to Turban. This battle is not for any individual, rather, it is for all existing and upcoming turbaned cyclists," said Jagdeep Singh, who founded the Turbanators cycling group.

" The Turbanators have organised a Ride for Rights from Delhi to Amritsar form 15th March to 17th March 2018, to raise funds for farmer suicide widows. See the poster on the Turbanators' Ride for Rights in English and in Panjabi here.

Jagdeep Singh, Turbanator who has petitioned the Supreme Court today

16th March 2018, New Delhi - 50 year-old Jagdeep Singh of New Delhi this week filed a Writ Petition in the Supreme Court of India to seek redress for Sikhs who are not being allowed to wear their turban, at cycling events organized by private entities. Jagdeep Singh, a professional graphic designer, was not allowed by Audax India Randonneurs (AIR), an Indian cycling association, to participate in their cycling event in Aug 2015, because he wore a turban instead of a helmet.

Following the discriminatory action by AIR, Jagdeep Singh, a committed cycling enthusiast who cycled 8000 km last year, set up a turbaned cyclist group, called 'The Turbanators', to fight discrimination against turbaned cyclists. In April last year, Jagdeep Singh sought help from UNITED SIKHS to seek redress against the continuing discrimination by AIR.

"We wrote to AIR asking them to allow Sikhs to cycle wearing their turbans. We were supported by S. Manjit Singh, the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, who also wrote to AIR. However, our efforts were in vain," said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS International Legal Director, who then engaged the pro bono services of Sr. Adv.Rupinder Singh Suri.

"Whilst the Indian constitution protects religious freedom and, for example, specifically provides for the wearing of the Sikh Kirpan, Sikhs have over the last few years faced a challenge wearing their articles of faith, including the turban. Hence, when UNITED SIKHS approached me to represent Jagdeep Singh, who is not able to participate in cycling events organised by AIR, because he wears a turban, I saw it as my duty to move the Apex Court," said Rupinder Singh Suri, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, after filing the petition this week.

"Jagdeep Singh submits in his petition that the issue being agitated is a very critical one. It is submitted that a whole minority community, the Sikhs, stand a chance of such continued discrimination were the Supreme Court not to indulge," "This discrimination is acute, particularly because there is no legal requirement for pedal cyclists to wear a helmet and Sikh motorcyclists are exempted from wearing the helmet in India," Mejindarpal Kaur said.

Advocate Luqman S. Hasan, Counsel from the Chambers of Mr R.S. Suri who drew up the petition, said, "There is no legislation/policy for recourse to legal remedies for violation of Fundamental Rights of a Sikh community member, for donning a Turban instead of helmet, committed by a private person or entity. It is submitted that there are no guidelines as well mandated by the Central Government."

"Through his petition, Jagdeep Singh is seeking the indulgence of the Supreme Court to direct Parliament to enact legislation on this issue and to order the Central Government to frame guidelines for such situations," he added.

The Turbanators have organised a 500 km Ride for Rights from Delhi to Amritsar, Panjab, from 15th to 17th March 2018. Thirty one Turbanators are cycling to raise awareness and funds for UNITED SIKHS' Rescue A Family (RAF) project, under which farmer suicide widows receive a monthly pension. Presently, 172 farmer suicide widows receive pensions under the RAF project. Sponsor a Farmer Suicide Widow pension by donating Rs 1 per km cycled.

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Issued by,
Mejindarpal Kaur
International Legal Director, UNITED SIKHS
T: +91 9779957973
E: law-global@unitedsikhs.org