Photo courtesy of kaurlife.org
A baptized Sikh candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, was barred from entering the Rajasthan High Court Civil Judge recruitment exam on Sunday, July 27, 2025, after being denied permission to wear her Kirpan – a mandatory article of faith for Sikhs. She was scheduled to sit for the crucial judiciary exam in Jaipur, when examination authorities reportedly prevented her entry.
The incident has drawn immediate and strong condemnation from prominent Sikh leaders, reigniting concerns about religious freedom and discrimination against minorities in India.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, swiftly denounced the action, characterizing it as a “serious violation of the Indian Constitution and religious discrimination against Sikhs.” The Kirpan is a fundamental tenet of the Sikh faith, yet Sikhs continue to face targeted discrimination for their distinct identity, even after widespread awareness campaigns.
This incident echoes a similar situation from last year’s recruitment process in both Jaipur and Jodhpur, where Sikh candidates also faced arbitrary restrictions. Despite previous written communications from Sikh organizations to the Rajasthan government regarding such matters, the issue evidently persists.
Sikh leaders expressed profound disappointment that such acts of discrimination are occurring at a time when the nation is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, who sacrificed his life to uphold religious freedom.
Adding to the controversy, the Rajasthan Commission had previously issued specific directives allowing baptized Sikh candidates to appear in examinations with the Kirpan. However, these directives appear to have been disregarded on the ground during Sunday’s exam. Relevant officials acknowledged the existing directives and assured that the matter would be brought to the attention of the Rajasthan High Court registrar once more.
The Sikh community and various advocacy groups are now calling for immediate and decisive action, including prompt redressal and the formulation of explicit guidelines.
The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in asserting their rights within institutional frameworks and highlights the critical need for consistent enforcement of constitutional guarantees.
