Centre told to remove bar on Sikh staff from wearing kirpan on domestic flights
Former chairperson of National Commission for Minorities Tarlochan Singh on Thursday wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to reconsider bar imposed on Sikh staffers of all entities from wearing kirpans while on duty.
It was Tarlochan Singh who, as NCM chief in 2002, had secured the general permission for Sikh passengers to wear small sized kirpans on domestic flights.
As per a new circular of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, while passengers can continue to carry small kirpans, Sikh staffers of airlines and airports, including security personnel and pilots, have been barred from wearing kirpans.
The new circular says, “Kirpan carried by Sikh passengers (not permitted for staff of any entity) on person in domestic routes of fully domestic flights operating from domestic terminals are allowed. However, the blade of the kirpan should not exceed 15.24 cm (6 inches) and length should not exceed 22.86 cm (9 inches).”
Tarlochan Singh in his letter to Naidu said the new circular, October 30, 2024, violates the religious freedom of the people of India.
“I have read the new circular where you have not permitted the Sikh staff of any entity to wear kirpan on duty in the domestic flights. This is a complete violation of the religious freedom of the people. A pilot who adheres to Sikh maryada has to keep a six inches kirpan all the time. I urge you to reconsider your decision and remove the discrimination for the Sikh staff of any kind on domestic flights,” reads the letter.
