Voices for Freedom (VFF) condemns the discriminatory incident in Hisar where an Amritdhari Sikh student, Milanveer Singh, was recently prevented from appearing for his Common Entrance Test (CET) for wearing his Kada, a sacred article of his faith. This incident underscores a recurring challenge for Sikhs in India and highlights the urgent need for consistent enforcement of constitutional rights.
According to reports from the Times of India, Milanveer Singh was barred from entering the examination center at Sector 16-17 despite being permitted to carry his Kirpan. Security personnel reportedly insisted he remove his Kada, a steel bracelet worn by initiated Sikhs as a symbol of their faith. This action directly contradicts established guidelines and constitutional provisions that protect the right of baptized Sikhs to wear all five articles of faith.
Advocating for his rights, Milanveer Singh immediately contacted Sardar Sukhsagar Singh, former head of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and an ex-member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. Upon arriving at the scene, Sukhsagar Singh attempted to explain the legal and religious sanctity of the Kada to the authorities, citing government policies that permit the Panj Kakars during public exams. However, initial appeals were met with resistance from the security staff.
As the situation escalated, Sukhsagar Singh contacted the emergency helpline and local police. Despite his efforts, initial consultations with senior officers reportedly resulted in them denying the student’s right to wear the Kada. It was only after Sukhsagar Singh announced his intention to stage a peaceful sit-in protest and applied persistent pressure that Milanveer Singh was finally allowed to take his exam with both his Kirpan and Kada.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder that religious freedom is a fundamental constitutional right, not a privilege subject to arbitrary interpretation. The repeated instances of Sikh individuals being harassed or denied opportunities due to their articles of faith are unacceptable. This places undue stress on individuals like Milanveer Singh, who should be focused on their academic future, not on fighting for their basic rights.
VFF emphasizes that the government and examination authorities have a clear responsibility to ensure their personnel are fully aware of and strictly adhere to guidelines protecting religious practices. To prevent future incidents and uphold the constitutional right to religious freedom, Voices for Freedom calls for three key actions First, we urge all examination boards to provide immediate and mandatory sensitization training for their staff and security personnel. This training should focus on the constitutional rights and religious observances of Sikh candidates, particularly the significance of the five articles of faith. Second, examination boards must issue clear, widely publicized directives. These directives should explicitly reaffirm the right of Amritdhari Sikhs to wear all five articles of faith during exams, removing any ambiguity that could lead to misinterpretation. Finally, we need to establish a clear and efficient mechanism for resolving such incidents quickly. This will help prevent unnecessary distress and ensure that a student’s academic future is never jeopardized because of discriminatory practices.
VFF remains committed to advocating for an environment where every individual can exercise their fundamental rights without fear of discrimination, and where religious identity is respected and protected in all spheres of public life.
