Toronto:
A Canadian Court has refused to allow a Sikh religious leader to enter into the courtroom with kirpan, a symbol of Sikh religion, saying it "could be used as a weapon".
Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin refused to allow Sukdev Singh Kooner to enter into courtroom with kirpan and said: "Although Kooner's charter right to freedom of religion may be breached, he will not be allowed to bring his kirpan into the courthouse."
Justice Rogin said: "This is especially so because of the excitement and passion this dispute has engendered in the Gurdwara and the fact that the kirpan, although ceremonial, could be used as a weapon."
Windsor police assigned extra security to the courtroom on Thursday as nearly 100 members of the local Sikh community crowded in to quietly witness the proceedings. None of the Sikh men or women wore their kirpans into the court.
Justice Rogin adjourned the case so Kooner can testify outside the court as permitted under the law like at his lawyer's offices.
Kooner, an allergist and respected leader at a Gurdwara was scheduled to testify Thursday in a lawsuit launched by a rival faction at the Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor.
But Kooner remained outside the courthouse after the judge ruled he couldn't wear his kirpan a ceremonial dagger worn in devotion to his faith.
Canada's Supreme Court has ruled students may carry kirpans in public schools provided the dagger is sewn into a sheath. Kirpans are also allowed in the House of Commons, in the Supreme Court building. While banned on airplanes, they are allowed on trains in Canada.
Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin refused to allow Sukdev Singh Kooner to enter into courtroom with kirpan and said: "Although Kooner's charter right to freedom of religion may be breached, he will not be allowed to bring his kirpan into the courthouse."
Justice Rogin said: "This is especially so because of the excitement and passion this dispute has engendered in the Gurdwara and the fact that the kirpan, although ceremonial, could be used as a weapon."
Windsor police assigned extra security to the courtroom on Thursday as nearly 100 members of the local Sikh community crowded in to quietly witness the proceedings. None of the Sikh men or women wore their kirpans into the court.
Justice Rogin adjourned the case so Kooner can testify outside the court as permitted under the law like at his lawyer's offices.
Kooner, an allergist and respected leader at a Gurdwara was scheduled to testify Thursday in a lawsuit launched by a rival faction at the Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor.
But Kooner remained outside the courthouse after the judge ruled he couldn't wear his kirpan a ceremonial dagger worn in devotion to his faith.
Canada's Supreme Court has ruled students may carry kirpans in public schools provided the dagger is sewn into a sheath. Kirpans are also allowed in the House of Commons, in the Supreme Court building. While banned on airplanes, they are allowed on trains in Canada.
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