‘Violation of my religious rights’: Sikh applicant in Canada says kirpan barred him from police recruitment test

A Winnipeg man started a debate about religious freedom after claiming he was stopped from writing a police recruitment exam because he was carrying a Sikh kirpan. Jaspal Singh Gill said his dream of becoming a police officer was “shattered” after he was allegedly asked to remove the ceremonial dagger before appearing for the Winnipeg Police Service recruitment exam.

“A Winnipeg man says his religious rights were violated after he wasn't allowed to bring his ceremonial dagger into a Winnipeg Police Service recruitment exam. He's asking for an apology and says he may file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission,” CTV anchor Daniel Halmarson said while introducing the report, per The Times of India.

Gill said he comes from a family of police officers in India and becoming a police officer had always been his dream.

What happened at examination centre

According to The Times of India report, Gill claimed officials informed him he would not be allowed to write the recruitment exam unless he removed his kirpan. “My goal was to be a police officer like my father and my grandfather. [...] I was told I couldn't bring it [the kirpan] inside. This is a violation of my religious rights,” he said.

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He added, “The recruitment officer came to me and they told me, like, you have to take off your kirpan in order to give the examination.” Gill said he refused to remove it and chose to leave the examination centre instead.

Why is the kirpan important in Sikhism

The kirpan is one of the five Ks in Sikhism and is considered a sacred religious symbol. It represents courage, justice, and the responsibility to protect others. Sikhs say the kirpan is not meant to be used as a weapon.

“We wear it that symbolise courage and our responsibility to fight against injustice,” Gill said while explaining the religious importance of the kirpan. Gill said he refused to remove the kirpan and decided to leave the examination centre instead.

“I have to, like my dream got shattered at that time. I believe that's discrimination because all other participants were allowed, but I was not allowed just because I was wearing a kirpan, which is an article of faith in Sikhism,” he added according to Times of India report.

How did Winnipeg Police respond

According to Times of India report, in a statement to CTV News, the Winnipeg Police Service defended its decision and said applicants had previously accepted temporary storage arrangements during examinations.

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“We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and religious communities. The option to securely store a kirpan for the duration of the exam has been accepted by many applicants in the past and has enabled them to complete the testing process,” a police spokesperson said, as per Times of India report.

What legal questions has the incident raised

According to Times of India report, Gill argued that his Charter rights had been violated and pointed to Supreme Court of Canada rulings allowing kirpans in several public spaces. “The Khalsa are allowed to wear kirpan in courthouse, are allowed to wear kirpan in assembly, are allowed to wear kirpan in domestic flights,” he said.

Legal expert Neil MacArthur said Gill may have strong legal grounds if he pursues the matter further. “Given that we have a Supreme Court precedent that was fairly clear, I think that his odds are probably quite good in a court process,” MacArthur said.

Despite the controversy, Gill said he still hopes to join the police force one day. “My long-standing personal goal was to join police service because my grandfather and father were police officers back in India,” Gill said as per TOI reports.

He has reportedly contacted a local MLA and filed a freedom of information request regarding the police department’s policy.