4 more weeks for Santa-Banta curbs

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 12

The Supreme Court today granted four weeks to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) for finalising their guidelines to curb Sardar jokes.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur passed the order as both the SGPC and DSGMC said they had set up their respective panels to study the problem and come up with solutions. 

(Follow ; and )

The work was in the final stage, they said. The Bench said the next hearing would be held after six weeks. On April 5, the apex court had 

granted eight weeks to the main petitioner, Harvinder Chowdhury, and Sikh bodies to suggest steps to deal with the problem.

On March 17, the Supreme Court had assured the SGPC that it would “certainly stop” commercialisation of Sardar jokes, which mainly affected students and children. 

The SGPC has sought a ban on websites 

hosting Sardar jokes, besides directing them to pay compensation for damaging the reputation and dignity of the Sikh community.