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SC to examine petitions against Sikh jokes with all seriousness

Written by : TNM Staff

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will seriously examine all petitions which allege that jokes on the Sikh community violate human rights of the community members, The Times of India reported. 

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has sought a law to ban jokes on racial, religious and regional lines in the country.

Last year, Harvinder Chowdhury, a Sikh lawyer filed a PIL demanding a ban on websites that carry "Santa Banta" or "Sardar" jokes, which according to her portray the community in a bad light. 

A bench of Justices TS Thakur and V Gopala Gowda had then cited the humour that the Sikh community is generally known for, while agreeing to examine the plea.

"This (Sikh) community is known for great sense of humour and they also enjoy such jokes. You must have gone through the jokes of Khushwant Singh... This is only an amusement. Why do you want it to be stopped?...Prepare your case well. We will hear you," PTI quoted the bench as saying. 

Chowdhury however argued that why only a particular community was subject to such jokes which according to her are racial in nature.

"All the jokes relating to Sikh community should be stopped. My children are humiliated and feel embarrassed and they don't want to suffix Singh and Kaur after their name," the report quoted Chowdhury as saying.

 

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