Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Is turban integral to the Sikh religion, asks top court

- Bhadra Sinha bhadra.sinha@htlive.com

Is wearing a turban integral to Sikh religion, asked the Supreme Court on Friday after a Delhi-based cyclist Jagdeep Singh Puri, challenged a local cycling associatio­n’s rules that required him to wear a helmet to participat­e in a competitio­n.

Puri (50) moved the petition with the plea that he cannot wear a helmet because it’s mandatory for him to wear a turban as per the Sikh religion. A bench of justices SA Bodbe and LN Rao wondered whether wearing a turban was necessary under the religion or just covering one’s head was. They referred to sportspers­ons from the Sikh community who didn’t wear turbans while participat­ing in games.

“We have sympathy for the cause. But have you showed us anything that makes it mandatory under Sikh religion to wear a turban only? For example Bishen Singh Bedi played cricket while simply covering his head. He never wore a turban. And what do soldiers do in battles? Don’t they

NEW DELHI:

wear helmets? You basically need to define what is a turban?,” the bench told Puri’s counsel, RS Suri. The lawyer told the bench that the Central Motor Vehicle Act grants exemption to Sikhs from wearing helmets while driving a two-wheeler. In several foreign countries such as UK and USA, members of other communitie­s, including Sikhs, have been permitted to wear turbans while playing sports in keeping with their religious beliefs.

But, the bench gave example of Milkha Singh. “Great sportspers­ons have never worn a turban. It seems to us that wearing a turban is not mandatory but covering your head is,” the bench said.

Justice Bobde said there was no harm in wearing a helmet if it was for one’s safety. “Why don’t you wear it? Why do you want to risk your head? Here you are undertakin­g a cycling competitio­n. You can smash your head and then you will allege the organisers are not following safety standards,” the judge said.

Fixing April 23 to hear Puri’s petition again, the bench asked Suri to get an authority on turbans.

 ?? AFP FILE ?? The Central Motor Vehicle Act exempts Sikhs from wearing helmets while riding twowheeler­s, the Supreme Court was told.
AFP FILE The Central Motor Vehicle Act exempts Sikhs from wearing helmets while riding twowheeler­s, the Supreme Court was told.

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