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The Sikh Court

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sikh Court
EstablishedApril 2024
JurisdictionEngland and Wales
Authorised 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 in 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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