Sir Mota Singh Wants UK to Allow ‘Kirpan’

Sikhs should be allowed to wear ‘kirpans’ to school and other public places in the country in accordance with their religious beliefs, believes Sir Mota Singh, Britain’s first Asian judge to be knighted.

The issue has been controversial with several instances of Sikhs being refused entry in public places and schools for carrying the ‘kirpan’ or the ceremonial dagger.

“I see no objection to a young Sikh girl or boy, who’s been baptised, being allowed to wear their kirpan if that’s what they want to do. Not allowing someone who is baptised to wear a Kirpan is not right,” Singh told the BBC.

Sir Mota Singh joined the English bar in 1967 and made headlines with his appointment to the bench in 1982 when he wore a white turban in court instead of a wig.

His decision to wear a turban in court came to be seen as a sign of a multicultural Britain.

“I wear my Kirpan and I’ve always worn it for the last 35 to 40 years, even when I was sitting in court or visiting public buildings, including Buckingham Palace,” he said.

“I think these are issues that can be dealt with a certain amount of sensitivity,” he added.

The Sikh Federation UK reportedly regularly receives calls from worried Sikh parents whose children have been prevented from wearing the ‘kirpan’ at school and in public areas.

The federation officials believe that objections to the ‘kirpan’ increased following the September 11 attacks and instances of knife crime.

Singh said | “The fact that I’m a Sikh matters more to me than anything else.

“If, for instance, when I was appointed the suggestion had been made that I could not appear unless I wore a wig and discarded my turban, I would have refused,” he said.

He added | “I would have said I would not accept the appointment, but the question never arose and no judicial eyebrows were raised at all”.