IndiGo Pilot Moves Bombay High Court for Right to Carry Kirpan While Flying

An IndiGo pilot has approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to carry a kirpan while flying, arguing that it is part of his religious freedom.

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A pilot working with IndiGo, a private airline, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a directive to the Union government to allow him to carry a kirpan while flying. The kirpan is a short knife with a curved blade, sometimes worn in miniature form, as one of the five distinguishing signs of the Sikh Khalsa.

Pilot Claims Right to Carry Kirpan Under Freedom of Religion

Angad Singh, a pilot with InterGlobe Aviation which operates IndiGo, asserted in his petition filed before the Nagpur bench of the high court that he has the right to carry a kirpan as part of the freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

High Court Issues Notice to Union Government and IndiGo

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri issued a notice to the Union government and the airline on Monday, seeking their replies. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 29, 2024.

Inconsistency in Guidelines for Passengers and Airline Staff

Singh's lawyer, advocate Saahil Shyam Dewani, argued that the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation need to be amended. He pointed out that on March 12, 2022, the government issued guidelines permitting Sikh passengers to carry a kirpan of a particular size.

However, the guidelines state that employees, including those belonging to the Sikh religion working at airports or airlines, are not allowed to carry a kirpan. The petition claims that this is a violation of Singh's fundamental rights.

Violation of Fundamental Rights and Logical Inconsistencies

The petition further argues that allowing passengers to carry a kirpan on board a plane but denying the same right to airline staff defies logic. It contends that the restrictions imposed on Sikh employees are discriminatory and infringe upon their religious freedom.

The Bombay High Court's decision on this case will have significant implications for the rights of Sikh individuals in the aviation industry and the broader discourse on religious freedom in India.