||Black and White Digital News ||

||Tejveer Singh June 24, 2024 ||

In a recent press conference, Sikh leaders expressed profound concern over a violation of religious rights during the NEET 2024 examination. The incident has sparked significant controversy, leading to legal action under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code.

Today, S. Balvinder Singh, President of the Sikh Progressive Front (SPF) and Vice President of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu, alongside key members of DGPC and SPF, highlighted a series of troubling events that occurred on May 5, 2024, during the NEET examination in Jammu District. Despite NEET’s clear instructions permitting Sikh candidates to wear their traditional kirpan and kada, several students were reportedly forced to remove these sacred items.

Balvinder Singh recounted an alarming incident at KV Miran Sahib School, where an NTA staff member insisted that a female Sikh student remove her kada. Despite her explanation of its religious significance and legal protection, she was denied entry. The situation escalated when a male staff member forcibly cut off her kada with a punching machine, causing her significant distress and delaying her entry into the examination center by half an hour.

“This is an egregious violation of Article 25(1) of the Constitution of India, which unequivocally recognizes the right to wear Sikh religious symbols,” Singh stated. He referenced the Delhi High Court ruling in W.P (C) DSGMC and ORS vs. Union of India and ORS, which affirms that wearing the kara and carrying the kirpan are essential practices of the Sikh religion, protected as expressions of religious identity.

Singh praised SP South Ajay Kumar for his prompt response to the incident. Kumar immediately instructed the concerned SHO at Satwari to register an FIR, ensuring that those responsible for this violation are held accountable under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

All leaders present at the press conference called upon the police department to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the guilty parties face appropriate legal action. They also urged the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration to address this serious issue promptly. The leaders demanded immediate directives to prevent such violations in the future, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to the legal protections of religious rights.

“We cannot allow such blatant disrespect and disregard for our religious freedoms,” Singh concluded. “This issue must be addressed decisively to prevent recurrence and ensure the dignity and rights of all individuals are respected.”

Other prominent persons present at the press conference included S Niranjan Singh, S Satinder Singh, S Jasbir Singh, S Sharanjit Singh, S Manmohan Singh, S Satinder Singh, Principal Pritam Singh, and S Tejinder Singh.