CJI Ranjan Gogoi said on Thursday (Feb 7) that he will look into whether kirpans can be allowed into the apex court after one Sikh lawyer, Amritpal Singh Khalsa informed the CJI that he was denied entry to the Supreme Court by security personnel for carrying a Kirpan.

Khalsa today made a mentioning before the CJI contending that there is “no such kind of circular, judgment, order that permits and/or regulates entry of Sikh with Kirpans”.

He stated: “Everyday I am humiliated, harassed because I am carrying Kirpan. Yesterday, I was denied entry due to it The Kirpan, a small sword or dagger, is one of the five articles of faith of the Sikh religion.”

Khalsa speaking with India Legal said that he had already written a letter to CJI regarding the issue. “I have faced 21 episodes of humiliation already in the past two years. Few days ago, more 10 policemen ganged up against and asked me step away from the entrance of the court complex. They told me that I am carrying a dagger longer than six inches. I requested them to measure it, but they never did,” Khalsa told India Legal.

The petition said that Amrit had filed an application under  Right to Information (RTI) seeking information on the size of Kirpan that is allowed inside Supreme Court. He hasn’t received a reply yet. Amrit said that there is “no circular/date/information/judgment/order that permits/regulates the size” of the dagger. “I couldn’t attend hearing of my cases, as I am occupied with the policemen at the entrance trying to convince them to let me inside.”

The petition claims that it is his fundamental right to wear and carry the dagger, and that there is no rule/law regulating size of the same for entry into the Court.

The petition requested the CJI to issue directions to security personnel to allow followers of Sikh religion to carry a Kirpan on the Court premises.

—India Legal Bureau