BCAS bans Sikh staff from wearing kirpan at airports; Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar reacts

PTC Web Desk: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued an order dated October 30 stating that Sikh employees at airports in India will not be allowed to wear a kirpan due to security concerns. The guideline was shared with airport staff a day prior to the announcement, which has snowballed into a controversy.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has justified the decision by citing security protocols, but the order has triggered criticism. Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, condemned the decision, calling it a violation of religious freedom. He said kirpan was a sacred symbol in Sikhism and wearing it was a religious right. He argued that such orders had previously hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community, and that the aviation authority’s directive to prevent Sikhs from wearing the kirpan while on duty was wrong.

Giani Harpreet Singh further pointed out that the Indian Constitution guaranteed Sikhs the freedom to wear their religious symbols, including five Ks (Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kachera, and Kirpan), which were vital to their faith. The Jathedar added that similar orders had been issued in both government and private institutions in the past, causing dissatisfaction within the Sikh community.

The order has sparked reactions from not only Sikh organisations but also political and social groups. The Amritsar Vikas Manch and Fly Amritsar Initiative have argued that the right to religious freedom is a fundamental right and that limiting it in this manner is unjust. While security concerns are important, they believe it is essential to balance them with respect for religious freedom.

This is not the first time a controversy over kirpans at airports has arisen. In 2022, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a similar order, prohibiting Sikh employees from carrying kirpans at airports. After receiving criticism, including from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the ministry withdrew the order.

In 2017, farmer leaders travelling to Tamil Nadu from Delhi Airport were stopped from boarding their flight due to their kirpans, with security citing safety reasons. On August 26, 2024, farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Baldev Singh Sirsa, and Sukhdev Singh Bhojraj were also prevented from boarding a flight at Delhi Airport.

According to current rules, Sikh passengers are allowed to carry kirpans on domestic flights in India, provided that the length of the kirpan does not exceed 23 cm (9 inches) and the blade length is no more than 15 cm (6 inches).