Helmet row: Sikh body hits out at Chd admin

AMRITSAR: The highest Sikh temporal seat on Monday opposed the Chandigarh administration’s July 6 notification making it mandatory for all including non-turbaned Sikh women to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers.

The Akal Takht passed a resolution saying the notification violates the Sikh code of conduct. It said that no court or any government authority has the right to define who is a Sikh.

The notification exempts one section of Sikh women from wearing the helmet but makes it mandatory for other. The Sikh clergy has taken to the exception to it saying it suggests as if the Sikh women without turban are not Sikhs.

“A woman whose surname is Kaur and she does not trim her hair is considered as Sikh as per Sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct). Wearing a turban is not mandatory for her. It depends on her choice. However, on this ground, the helmet cannot be made mandatory for her,’’ said Akal Takht jathedar (leader) Giani Gurbachan Singh in reference to the resolution in this regard. “A Sikh woman is a Sikh even she does not wear a turban. And wearing a helmet or any other kind of top or cap is a violation of Sikh tenets and the Sikhs cannot be forced to wear helmets.” He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which manages Sikh shrines, was asked to take legal measures to counter the notification at a meeting of its women members recently.

Sikh groups have cited Sikh rehatnamas (old version of the code of ethics) to oppose the wearing of helmets.