Sikh students in Punjab fined for wearing Turban

Source : Rozana Spokesman 30-Apr-2008
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3 students punished for wearing turbans

30 Apr 2008 Indian Express

Principal Veena Malhotra said the students have flouted school rules which state ‘the students upto class X should wear patka'. But she failed to produce any such rule written in the school diary

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
MOHALI

AFTER France, it is now Mohali banning students from wearing turbans in schools. Three students of Class X of Lawrence Public School were today asked to leave their classrooms by the school authorities for wearing turbans and were made to sit in a separate room as punishment.

Principal Veena Malhotra said they had flouted the rules of the school which reads ‘the students upto class X should wear patka but she failed to produce any such rule written in the school diary.

The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, however, demanded action against the school.

Inderjeet Singh, Gursewak Singh and Ravinder Singh, all class X students, had come to school wearing turbans. About 9.30 am, the school principal visited the class and asked these three students to get up and come out. "She asked us not to wear turbans in the school, claiming that it doesn't look nice," claimed Gursewak Singh.

They were asked to take their school bags out of the class and were directed not to attend any class for the whole day as punishment.

The authorities said that they will impose a fine of Rs 50 per day if they wear turbans in the school, one of the students said.

Principal Veena Malhotra said their dress code does not allow turbans and it is mandatory for students of upto Class X.

"We have prescribed patka for Sikh students and they should abide by the rules of the school. We asked them to sit in a separate room just because they flouted the norms. We will not let them attend classes if they wear turbans again," she added.

But she failed to produce any such rule existing in the rulebook and any such norm ever being communicated to the students.

The SGPC has demanded action against the school.

Hardeep Singh, member of SGPC from Mohali, said they will protest against the disrepute brought to the Sikh religion by the school authorities and will take up the matter with the SGPC.

"Turban is a part of Sikhism and nobody can deter Sikh students from wearing them," he added.

AFTER France, it is now Mohali banning students from wearing turbans in schools. Three students of Class X of Lawrence Public School were today asked to leave their classrooms by the school authorities for wearing turbans and were made to sit in a separate room as punishment. Principal Veena Malhotra said they had flouted the rules of the school which reads ‘the students upto class X should wear patka but she failed to produce any such rule written in the school diary. The Shiromani Gurud- wara Prabandhak Commit- tee, however, demanded ac- tion against the school. Inderjeet Singh, Gursewak Singh and Ravinder Singh, all class X students, had come to school wearing tur- bans. About 9.30 am, the school principal visited the class and asked these three students to get up and come out. "She asked us not to wear turbans in the school, claiming that it doesn't look nice," claimed Gursewak Singh. They were asked to take their school bags out of the class and were directed not to attend any class for the whole day as punishment. The authorities said that they will impose a fine of Rs 50 per day if they wear turbans in the school, one of the stu- dents said. Principal Veena Malhotra said their dress code does not allow turbans and it is mandatory for students of upto Class X. "We have prescribed patka for Sikh students and they should abide by the rules of the school. We asked them to sit in a separate room just be- cause they flouted the norms. We will not let them attend classes if they wear turbans again," she added. But she failed to produce any such rule existing in the rulebook and any such norm ever being communicated to the students. The SGPC has demanded action against the school. Hardeep Singh, member of SGPC from Mohali, said they will protest against the disrepute brought to the Sikh religion by the school au- thorities and will take up the matter with the SGPC. "Turban is a part of Sikhism and nobody can de- ter Sikh students from wear- ing them," he added.

Source : http://epaper.indianexpress.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=30_04_2008_541_003&typ=0&pub=320
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Mohali school in 'patka' vs turban debate
30 Apr 2008 Times of India Chandigarh Pg 21

Mohali: While the issue regarding Sikh students not being allowed to wear turbans in France is yet to be resolved, a related controversy is brewing up in a Mohali school. The management of Lawrence Public School here seems to have triggered another debate after three students were barred from attending classes for wearing turbans instead of patkas, as required by school rules.
Reacting sharply to it, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar has asked the police to register a case against the school management.
However, school principal Veena Malhotra defended her decision saying she was just following the rules of the school as per which students till class X have to wear patkas whereas students of class XI and XII wear turbans. The three class X pupils — Gursewak Singh, Inderjeet Singh and Ravi Inder Singh — were asked to sit separately in another classroom before they were asked strictly not to wear turbans. 'For the last five days one of the student was coming to school wearing a turban, and today he was joined by two more. I had to take strict action,' said Malhotra.
She said that one of them asked the teacher to call his father, and he was allowed to use the school phone. 'Since then the situation went out of the control. I only asked them to follow the school rules, and that is within my authority,' she said.
The SGPC chief said this rule of the school was unacceptable and illogical as they have been encouraging Sikh children to wear 'dastar' (turban ) . Makkar further added that the turban is the pride of every Sikh as stated in Gurbani: 'Sabat surat dastar sar.'
However, reacting to the anger of the high priest, the principal said this was not a matter of religion but school rules. 'I too am a born Sikh, and out of the 1,000 students about 75% are Sikhs and 80% staff is from the same religion. How can I challenge our own faith,' she said, adding that the rule was made just for uniformity.
However, Makkar does not appear to agree with the logic, and insisted on an FIR being registered against them. 'This is not France but Punjab where we are committed to safeguard Sikhism,' he said

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Turban Ban Sparks Row in School
Turbaned students detained, parents threaten to withdraw them; SGPC seeks police action

30 Apr 2008 Hindustantimes Chandigarh Times Pg 01

THE BAN imposed by Lawerance Public Senior Secondary School in Sector 51, S.A.S. Nagar, on wearing of turbans by students up to Class X led to a major controversy today when three turbaned Class X students were made to sit in the sickroom as punishment for what school principal Veena Malhotra terms "violation of school rules".

While Malhotra is adamant not to allow students up to Class X to wear turbans, the affected parents have threatened to withdraw their wards from the school.

After being informed about the incident by the aggrieved parents, the SGPC called for strict and immediate police action against the school authorities for "hurting Sikh sentiments".

Calling it a "very serious issue", SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said he had asked the S.A.S. Nagar SSP to register a case against the school authorities. "If turbans are banned in Punjab, how will we fight the turban ban in other countries?" he asked, adding that he would also raise the issue with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the SAS Nagar Deputy Commissioner.

It all began when Class X students Gursewak Singh from Phase VI, Ravi Inder Singh from Phase I and Inderjeet Singh from Kharar came to the school wearing turbans and the class teacher sent them to the principal. "When I confronted them, they all felt sorry and said they would not wear turbans again," said the principal.

Malhotra said Gursewak was coming to school wearing a turban for the last five days despite being asked not to by his class teacher. "Today, two of his classmates also came with turbans, which called for strict measures," she said.

Malhotra said Gursewak's father, along with some mediapersons, had come to the school to raise an objection, but she told them that she would not allow anyone to break the rule. "Things have been blown out of proportion. Tying a 'patka' is not only less time-consuming, but it is also easier to carry. Our parent- teacher association had held a meeting a decade ago, where it was decided to allow turbans only for Class XI and XII students. "Most of the students and faculty of this school are Sikhs and even I belong to a Sikh family, but I fail to understand the objection," said Malhotra.

Some SGPC members and police officials also met the principal this evening to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, the Kalgidhar Sewak Jatha from the Phase IV gurdwara has decided to stage a dharna outside the school tomorrow.

Gursewak's father Rajendra Singh, who has lodged a formal complaint with the SGPC, said he would withdraw his son from the school if he was not allowed to wear a turban.

SP (City) Varinder Pal Singh said an inquiry had been marked to DSP (City-II) Swarndeep Singh.

Interestingly, there is no hard and fast rule on wearing of turbans in government schools. "It is up to students whether they want to wear a turban or not," some government school teachers told
Hindustan Times.
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Source :
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