UK court asked to settle Sikh sainthood claim

The supreme court is considering whether it should rule on the spiritual status of a Sikh leader and examine his claim to be a “holy saint”.The highly unusual application made by Sant Baba Jeet Singh Ji Maharaj and his followers would force the courts to intervene in an international religious dispute over the ownership of three gurdwaras, or temples, in Bradford, Birmingham and High Wycombe.

The supreme court is considering whether it should rule on the spiritual status of a Sikh leader and examine his claim to be a “holy saint”.
The highly unusual application made by Sant Baba Jeet Singh Ji Maharaj and his followers would force the courts to intervene in an international religious dispute over the ownership of three gurdwaras, or temples, in Bradford, Birmingham and High Wycombe.

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Jeet Singh was installed as the "Third Holy Saint" and head of the Nirmal Kutia Johal branch of the Sikh religion in Punjab in 2002 but his legitimacy has been challenged. Former members of the temples' management committees now control some of the gurdwaras.

In May the court of appeal declined to become entangled in the row, warning that judges should not adjudicate on the type of doctrinal matters that preoccupied 19th-century courts.

"The resolution of [this] issue," Lord Justice Mummery said, "depends on the religious beliefs and practices of Sikhs in general and the Nirmal Kutia Sikh institution in particular.

"The English courts are not equipped to adjudicate on the issue of succession by reference to religious beliefs and practices, either with or without expert evidence.

Despite the setback, followers of Jeet Singh are seeking nod from the Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court ruling that the case was not “justiciable” – able to be tried in court. The supreme court confirmed that it was examining legal submissions.