Update: Sikhs to Go to Supreme Court Over Prison Turban Restriction

July 22, 2006

Source: Money Control India

http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/newsarticle/stocksnews.php?cid=1&autono=1632&source=ibnlive.com

On July 22, 2006 Money Control India reported, "A recent court ruling in Punjab and Haryana has not gone down well with the state's Sikh community. According to a High Court judgement passed on Monday, Sikh prisoners in Punjab jails can no longer wear their full, traditional turbans and will instead have to do with a truncated half-a-square metre under-turban or patka. The ruling came after government's contention that full turbans would pose a security risk if worn in prison. The judgment came on a petition moved by the Punjab-based Sikh Students Federation seeking permission for Sikh prisoners to wear full turban - about 9-metres long - while undergoing prison terms. 'It is a High Court order and it has to be naturally implemented,' Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh said. However, not all agree. Former chief minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal supremo, Prakash Singh Badal finds the idea of security threat rather far fetched."