Private school bans wearing turban in Shimla, Singh Sabha says

By Nagender Ranta

SHIMLA: The 18-year-old Sikh boy studying in a Christian private school in Shimla was banned wearing a turban in the school, said Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla, an apex body of the Sikhs in the capital of the state.

 

“A Sikh boy studying in plus 2 class in St. Edward’s School here in Shimla was denied wearing turban. The Guru Singh Sabha wrote a letter to the Principal in the Month of March when the school reopened  but the school administration did not respond on this sensitive religious matter. Ultimately, we decided to go to the media as it hurts our religious sentiments. We would welcome if school administration allows wearing turban to the senior students. We want the issue to be resolved amicably,” Jaswinder Singh,President , Guru Singh Sabha Shimla,  told Punjab Newsline.

 

The Guru Singh Sabha severely criticized this move of the private school calling it violation of the right to freedom of religion granted under the Indian Constitution.

 

We have given ultimatum to the principal of the school if this practice does not end and wearing turban was not allowed, we would begin a protest in front of the school and need be, can launch a protest movement across the state. The school is purposely hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, he added.

 

“The Sikhs in Shimla feel hurt by this act of violation of the religious right of wearing turban, which is the religious identity of our community. We are a secular democratic country and such an act leads to spread of communalism in the society especially when an educational Institution practices such unconstitutional activity in its campus,” said President of the Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla.        .

 

We have given ultimatum to the principal of the school if this practice does not end and wearing turban was not allowed, we would begin a protest in front of the school and need be, can launch a protest movement across the state. The school is purposely hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, he added.

 

The school administration denies such allegations. The principal of the school said that we have no objection on wearing turban in the school and the matter has already been settled with the parents.

 

with thanks : PunjabNewsLine : LINK for detailed news.