A Sikh pilot in India has approached a court to seek a permit to carry a religious dagger, ‘Kirpan’ while flying and inside airports. Watch what happens next? Is he allowed to follow his religion in his profession?
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#Sikh #Kirpan #SikhsKirpan #IndigoAirlines #Pilot #Indigo #IndianAirlines #Flights #Aviation #Sikhism #OneindiaNews
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NewsTranscript
00:00 In a significant legal move, Sikh pilot Angad Singh, employed with Indian private carrier
00:10 Indigo, has taken his request to the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.
00:16 He seeks permission from the Government of India to carry his religious dagger known
00:21 as the Kirpan, both while flying and inside airports.
00:26 This case underscores the intersection of religious freedom and aviation regulations,
00:31 sparking a dialogue on the accommodation of cultural practices with professional settings.
00:37 Kirpan, a dagger with a curved blade, is one of the five physical symbols worn by Sikhs
00:44 which are considered markers of Sikh identity or five Ks of Sikhs.
00:51 The others are Kesh or uncut hair, Kara which is a steel bracelet, the Kanga, a wooden comb
00:58 and Kachera or underwear.
01:01 The petitioner's Mr. Angad Singh contends that Sikh individuals employed in the aviation
01:06 industry should have the right to carry their religious symbol, the Kirpan, as it protects
01:12 under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, ensuring religious freedom.
01:17 Notably, Sikh passengers are already permitted to carry a Kirpan while travelling by air.
01:23 In March 2022, India's Aviation Regulatory Authority, the Director-General of Civil Aviation
01:30 (DGCA) issued directives for exceptional regulatory sanction.
01:35 These directives allowed Sikh air passengers to carry Kirpans with blades not exceeding
01:41 six inches on civilian flights.
01:43 A subsequent correction notice extended this permission to Sikh employees working at airports.
01:49 However, Mr. Singh argues that the same should be applicable to all employees in the aviation
01:56 industry.
01:57 He emphasized a Delhi High Court judgment which asserted that there should be no discrimination
02:02 between Sikh passengers and stakeholders working as ground staff.
02:07 Mr. Singh's plea raises questions about uniformity in religious accommodations within the aviation
02:13 sector, especially regarding the carrying of the Kirpan.
02:17 A notification has been formally issued to the Ministry of Aviation, the Director-General
02:23 of the Central Industrial Security Force and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, urging
02:29 them to provide their responses on this crucial matter.
02:33 The case is set for its next hearing on 29 January 2024, signalling a continued legal
02:40 discourse on the rights of Sikh individuals within the aviation industry and the accommodation
02:47 of their religious practices.
02:48 For more information on the Sikh-related cases, please visit www.sikhair.org.au/sikhi-cases.
02:49 For more information on the Sikh-related cases, please visit www.sikhair.org.au/sikhi-cases.
02:50 For more information on the Sikh-related cases, please visit www.sikhair.org.au/sikhi-cases.
02:51 For more information on the Sikh-related cases, please visit www.sikhair.org.au/sikhi-cases.
02:51 For more information on the Sikh-related cases, please visit www.sikhair.org.au/sikhi-cases.