Giving Ceremonial Gift ‘Sword’ To A Dignitary In Gurudwara Is Not Illegal: MP HC [Read Order]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held the ceremonial gift given to a visiting dignitary in the Gurudwara cannot be said to be an offence within the purview of the MP Government’s notification as it was not carried in a public place.

The sword was gifted to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan when he visited the Gurudwara at Bhopal on occasion of the 350^th Birth Anniversary of Guru Govind Singhji but such sword was not carried in a public place.

The court held “Gurudwara, though is open to public, is not a public place, it is a private place where there is a Prakash of Gurugranth Sahib”.

The MP Government’s notification dated 22/11/1974 prohibits acquisition, possession or carrying of a sharp edged weapon with a blade more than 6 inches long or 2 inches wide and spring actuated knives with a blade of any size in a public place.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Atul Sreedharan observed “it is customary in Gurudwaras to present Siropa to the visiting dignitaries which consist of sometimes a shawl and sometimes a sword which is of ornamental use”.

While dismissing the appeal the court said “the present is a case of misguided person who has filed this petition”.

The appellant challenged the single bench order that dismissed his petition wherein a direction was sought to register an FIR in this matter.

Read the Order here.