Supreme Court to hear SGPC's plea for prohibiting jokes on Sikhs

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday moved Supreme Court seeking ban on circulation of jokes about the Sikh community and the court indicated that it may issue guidelines if people are commercially exploiting the jokes.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur asked advocate Satinder Singh Gulati, appearing for SGPC, to point out the areas where sub-judicial orders can be passed.

"Tell us which are the areas where we can do something. We will certainly look into it if entire community is feeling harassed," the bench said, adding that it may pass some orders if circulation of such jokes is being commercially exploited.

The counsel for SGPC said, "A stereotype has been created and Sikhs are being discriminated in society because of a particular language and religion."

The bench asked the counsel to give suggestions and assured him that it will certainly look into them.

The petitioner cited several past incidents in which the accused were arrested for selling books containing jokes relating to Sikhs.

Earlier, on a separate plea by Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) against jokes on Sikhs, the apex court had observed that there was a need for sensitising the society from the formative stages.