Do You Know: Sardar Jokes are Going to Stop!
Sikh groups form panels to stop Sardar jokes.
SIKH ORGANISATIONS have set up committees comprising former Supreme Court judges to suggest guidelines on enforcing a ban on jokes on Sikhs.
Former Supreme Court judges H S Bedi and M Y Eqbal are members of the committee constituted by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to formulate measures on how to stop such jokes, which, according to a PIL, are a violation of their right to equality and an attack on the dignity of the Sikh community.
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) too has set up a panel, headed by retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge K S Grewal, to recommend guidelines on how to stop Sardar jokes and for issuance of appropriate directions to the central and state governments to make the ban enforceable.
On Tuesday, a bench led by CJI T S Thakur was informed about the committees constituted by the Sikh bodies.
Senior lawyer R S Suri, representing the DSGMC, told the bench that the committee held meetings to come out with guidelines. Suri added that the committee was in fact looking at the broader framework wherein all such jokes on particular communities could be prohibited and be removed from the Internet. The other members of this committee included former law secretary Raghubir Singh and academician Ved Baruah.
The counsel, appearing for the SGPC, brought to the court’s notice that they have also set up a committee. The bench adjourned the case by six weeks to enable the committees to propose a mechanism that would be examined before passing orders.
