The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the regulatory authority for civil aviation security, on Monday revoked its order of restricting Sikh employees working at airports from carrying kirpans, a religious curved dagger.
“The BCAS order of 12th March restores the position before the 4th March. The para restricting entry of Sikh employees inside the airport carrying kirpan of specified size has been deleted,” the aviation ministry stated on Monday.
The move came after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) raised the issue with the Union aviation ministry as it restricted Amritdhari Sikh employees from wearing their kirpan while working at airports.
The SGPC said the kirpan is one of the five symbols of faith in the Sikh religion which distinguishes them from others.
According to an initial internal order issued on March 4, all Sikh passengers can carry kirpans (with a length of the blade, not more than six-inch and a total length of nine inches) in person on domestic flights only. However, all Sikh employees working at the airports were restricted to carry them to work (airport).