The Sikh Court

The Sikh Court
EstablishedApril 2024
JurisdictionEngland and Wales
Authorized byArbitration Act 1996
Websitewww.sikhcourt.co.uk
Chief Judge
CurrentlyBaldip Singh
Chief Magistrate
CurrentlyGurbani Kaur

The Sikh Court is a legal organization set up in the United Kingdom in 2024 by a group of Sikh lawyers. It is intended to act as an alternative dispute resolution body for disputes within the British Sikh community.[1]

In spite of its name, the founders have stated that it is not a religious tribunal, and participation in its processes is voluntary.[2][3] The court has 46 members, who were sworn in on April 2024.[4]

History

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In April 2024, the world's first Sikh court was established by Sikh lawyers in the 15th-century Old Hall at Lincoln's Inn, London. The court aims to provide an alternative forum for dispute resolution for UK-based Sikhs involved in family and civil disputes, operating on a mediation-arbitration framework in tandem with the UK courts to alleviate backlogs and offer culturally informed judgments.[1]

Key Members

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  • Chief Judge - Baldip Singh Aulak
  • Chief Magistrate - Gurbani Kaur
  • Family Lead Judge - Sharan Kaur
  • Civil Lead Judge - Satvinder Singh Juss
  • Fact Finding Inquiries Lead Judge - Harjap Singh Bhangal

Criticism

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Pragna Patel of Southall Black Sisters, have criticised the creation of the court, saying that it is an example of a wider trend of conservative religious forces creating "parallel justice systems" occupying areas that were previously the concern of the secular state.[5][6]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The world's first Sikh court opens in London - Religion Media Centre". religionmediacentre.org.uk. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  2. ^ "UK Gets First 'Sikh Court' To Deal With Family Disputes: Report". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  3. ^ "London gets world's first Sikh court for family dispute resolution". India Today. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  4. ^ "The world's first Sikh court opens in London: How will it work?". Firstpost. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. ^ Patel, Pragna (2024-05-31). "The world is getting its first Sikh court in London. That's a threat to women's rights". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  6. ^ Sanghi, Sanskriti (2024-05-20). "Joint Statement on the The[sic] Sikh Court". Southall Black Sisters. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
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