World’s first Sikh Court launches in London

“It is not a religious tribunal but is aimed at assisting Sikh families in their time of need.”

British Sikh lawyers have come together to set up a new court as a dispute resolution forum for the community caught up in family and civil disputes. The court was founded by Sikh lawyers who believe secular judges lack the religious and cultural expertise required to resolve Sikh disputes.

The Sikh court was launched last weekend at a ceremony at the Old Hall at Lincoln’s Inn in London. British Sikh lawyers have set up a new court in London as a dispute resolution forum for family and civil disputes within the community. It comprises around 30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most are women. The court aims to deal with ‘conflict in line with Sikh principles’

Beneath portraits of England’s 17th-century judiciary, 46 Sikh magistrates and judges took an oath in front of Panj Pyare to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and integrity as prescribed by the teachings of Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Sikh faith. Notably, most of them were women.

“The Sikh Court is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) based on a ‘Med-Arb’ framework, a forum created by Sikh and non-Sikh lawyers and judges from around the world to resolve disputes within the Sikh community,” said the Sikh Court chief judge Baldip Singh, an international family law barrister at No 5 Chambers in London. He also serves as the chairman of the Sikhs in Law Association.

He stated that the initiative was intended to support the judicial system and collaborate in dealing with disputes that currently clog the ever-increasingly burdened judicial system and that with lengthy delays in listing, the UK courts were simply understaffed and under-resourced.

Created following discussions with Sikh charities, the courses would cover low-level domestic violence, anger management, gambling, and substance misuse, and are available in Punjabi as well as English. If mediation is unsuccessful, a case can be brought in front of a Sikh court judge, who can give a legally binding judgment under the Arbitration Act.

“The Sikh court is a good idea because it allows justice to reach more people, particularly those who cannot afford it because litigation is costly and not everyone has access,” said Gurpreet Kaur Mattu, a barrister from London-based law firm No5 Chambers, who has been appointed as one of the judges. Her sister, Amarjit Kaur, has been appointed as a magistrate in the Sikh court.

If successful, the initiative could serve as a valuable model for Sikhs in other parts of the world looking to establish similar systems. The magistrates will mediate between parties to negotiate a settlement and direct them to a course to help them work on specific issues.

“If we think that there are really significant safeguarding issues that we cannot deal with and should not deal with, they will be directed to the appropriate place. We’re not here to take over and upset the English courts,” said Sharan Bhachu, a barrister reportedly sworn in as the “lead family judge” for the new Sikh court last week.

One of the Sikh court’s primary functions is to provide mediation and arbitration services to resolve civil and family disputes within the Sikh community, thereby reducing strain on court resources. Another potential advantage of the initiative is that it will value Sikh values in dispute resolution while also promoting inclusion.

“As the world’s first such court, this was Sikh history in the making and yet another expression of Sikh sovereignty. Though there were some objections, it was comforting to know that the entire project was carried out with the blessing and endorsement of Sri Akaal Takht Amritsar,” said Dr Gurnam Singh, professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick.

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