Search SikhNet News Archive

12/09/2005

Comments Email this Article

The French Government issued a circular yesterday effectively overturning a previous French High Court decision that said it was illegal to prevent a Sikh from wearing a turban for his driving license for his photograph.

The Ministry of Transports, Equipments, Tourism and Seas have issued a circular through which they have now banned the wearing of turbans on driving licenses. Consequently, Shingara Singh Mann, the appellant of a case pending with the court, will not get his driving license within 30 days, as previously ruled by the High Court.

On Monday, the French High Court ruled that the Ministry of Transport’s decision to disallow the wearing of the turban for driving license photographs was illegal since the Ministry had no rule in place to defend this. Consequently, it was deemed their decision to disallow Shingara Singh Mann’s turban-wearing picture on his driving license, was illegal. The Ministry of Transport promptly issued a Circular, which now allows them to not issue driving licenses to turban-wearing people unless the applicant removes his or her turban for the photograph.

Mejindarpal Kaur, Director of United Sikhs Eu, stated: “The global Sikh community is shocked at the attitude of the French government. First it acted illegally by preventing a Sikh from wearing a turban on the driving license and when the High Court pointed out this illegality, the government passed a new rule the next day banning the turban on driving licenses.”

Shingara Singh Mann and Kudrat Singh, Directors of United Sikhs France, together with the French Action Committee for the Turban, will meet with Patrice Spinosi, the High Court Counsel and his co-Counsel F Jacquot to decide on the way forward

http://www.unitedsikhs.org/rtt/

Email the News Editor Add SikhNet news to your website


Become a SikhNet Supporter
Make a one time contribution or sign up as a monthly SikhNet donor.
History - Donation - Privacy - Help - Registration - Search


Copyright © 2007 SikhNet
Phone: 505-753-3117 - Email SikhNet Support