Several Sikh bodies have reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent weeks to urge him to appoint more Sikh judges to the Supreme Court and high courts. The Sikh community has long been underrepresented in the judiciary, and these groups believe that it is time for this to change.
In a letter to PM Modi, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest religious body of the Sikhs, said that the community’s representation in the judiciary “is not commensurate with its population and contribution to the nation.” The SGPC urged PM Modi to “take immediate steps to appoint more Sikh judges to the Supreme Court and high courts.”
The Sikh bodies have also pointed out that there are many qualified Sikh lawyers who are eligible to be appointed as judges. They have called on PM Modi to consider these lawyers when making appointments to the judiciary.
The issue of Sikh representation in the judiciary has been raised in the past, but it has gained renewed attention in recent months. In September, the Supreme Court ruled that Sikhs can wear turbans in courtrooms. This ruling was seen as a victory for the Sikh community, and it has led to renewed calls for more Sikh judges to be appointed.
PM Modi has not yet responded to the letters from the Sikh bodies, but he is expected to do so in the near future. The Sikh community is hopeful that PM Modi will take their concerns seriously and that he will take steps to appoint more Sikh judges to the judiciary.
In addition to the SGPC and the AISSF, other Sikh bodies that have reached out to PM Modi include the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and the All India Sikh Conference (AISSF).
The DSGMC said in a statement that “the Sikh community has always been at the forefront of the nation’s struggle for freedom and justice. It is time for the Sikh community to be given its due representation in the judiciary.”
