The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought to know as to what could be done within the judicial dimension to deal with a plea by a Sikh body for a check on circulation of “Sardar” jokes through guidelines and sensitisation programmes.
“We don’t want you to be shown as you are in less intellect than others...but tell us what can be done within the judicial dimension...some of your community people like Khushwant Singh has written a book on jokes,” a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur told senior advocates R S Suri and A P S Ahluwalia.
The counsels themselves Sikhs sought directions, laying down some guidelines and sensitisation programmes to stop lampooning the Sikh community. They represented the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee, which has joined Harvinder Chowdhury, a petitioner.
“Even if we pass some orders, saying don’t circulate such jokes, can it enforced? Can you stop your own colleagues from cracking jokes on you,” the bench, also comprising Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit, asked the senior advocates. The court, however, agreed to examine the issue, while noting Sikhs are the pride of the nation and have given the country a prime minister in Manmohan Singh and a President in Gyani Jail Singh.
In his brief submission, Chowdhury cited a judgment by the apex court — stating there should not be any tolerance for violation of human dignity — to assert her plea that such jokes on community at large must be stopped.
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