India's Supreme Court Refuses To Order Constitution Amended To Clarify Status of Sikhs

Entities Mentioned

Calcutta

Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)

India's Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a lawsuit asking it to order the government to amend India's Constitution to eliminate a provision in Explanation II to Article 25 that says the reference in the Constitution to the power to legislate regarding Hindu religious institutions should be construed to also include Sikh, Jain and Buddhist institutions. Sikhs want it made clear that Sikhism is a separate religion. Calcutta's Telegraph reports that ... (Read Full Article)

Bookmark or Share this article

Related Articles
- Samoan Council of Churches Wants To Limit Entry of New Religions To Country
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- Moratorium Placed On More Displays In Washington State Capitol
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- New Texas Sheriff Reaches Out To Sikhs In Light of Recent Incident
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- Indian Panel Investigating Dow Chemical Construction At Holy Hindu Site
- also published in Religion Clause
- Malaysia About To Bar Muslims From Practicing Yoga
- also published in Religion Clause
- Senate Resolution Condemns Mumbai Attack, Opposes Religious Extremism
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- Religious Worker Visa Rules Have Been Amended
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- 9th Circuit Rejects Tax Deduction for Religious Day School Tuition
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- 2nd Circuit Hears Arguments In Vermont License Plate Case
- also written by noreply@blogger.com (Howard Friedman)
- Last Jews of Calcutta have one last guardian
- also mentions Calcutta

Recent Comments

Reply Permalink

On 1/21/10 reformuscirf said:

"India’s constitution defines all followers of Indic faith (i.e. Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sanatan etc.) as Hindus.

Article 29 and 30 of Indian constitution provides lesser rights, benefits and protection to Hindus vs. non-Hindus paving way for hostile government take-over of Hindu institutes and misappropriation of its assets and income. More-over, Minority institutes also receive government patronage in form of Exemption from 2005 Amendment to the Article 15, 95% grant-in-aid, College Scholarship to pursue higher education etc.

Many organizations feel that Hindu label is a liability. It exposes them to ideologically inspired attacks, places them at a financial disadvantage and paves way for government confiscation. As a result, several entities like Rama-Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs, Jains etc. have filed law-suits and done intense lobbying to declare them self a non-Hindu minority religion. For Instance, in west Bengal, Rama Krishna Mission whose colleges and schools were in danger of hostile take-over by Marxist government petitioned the courts to have their organization and movement declared a non-Hindu minority religion.

So far India’s Supreme Court has rejected Rama Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs and Jain Organizations petitions asking for minority status.

Reference: www.uscirf.blogspot.com section: Error of Omission

"