The Supreme Court has asked whether wearing turbans is an integral part of Sikhism. The apex court’s query came after a Delhi-based cyclist Jagdeep Singh Puri, moved a petition challenging a local association’s rule that required him to wear a helmet to participate in a competition, Hindustan Times reported.
Reacting to the plea, a bench of justices SA Bodbe and LN Rao said, “We have sympathy for the cause. But have you showed us anything that makes it mandatory under Sikh religion to wear a turban only?”
Referring to sportspersons from the Sikh community who didn’t wear turbans while participating in games, the bench said, 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 wear helmets? You basically need to define what is a turban?,” court bench told Puri’s counsel, RS Suri.
Indian Express
“Great sportspersons have never worn a turban… take Milkha Singh also. It seems to us that wearing a turban is not mandatory but covering your head is,” Justice Bobde added.
The court also wondered whether wearing a turban was necessary under the religion or just covering one’s head was.
The petitoner’s cousel told the court even the Central Motor Vehicles Act granted exemption to Sikhs from wearing a helmet while driving a two-wheeler.
The Counsel also said that in countries like UK and US, members of other communities, including Sikhs, have been permitted to wear turbans while playing sports in keeping with their religious beliefs.
The court has fixed April 23 to hear Puri’s petition again, and asked Suri to get an authority on turbans.
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