SC begins examining if Sikhs are minority in Punjab

The Supreme Court on Monday asked whether Sikhs in Punjab and Muslims in Kashmir can be treated as minority, as it commenced hearing to decide the correctness of a 2007 Punjab and Haryana high court verdict, holding that Sikhs cannot be granted 50 per cent quota in Sikh educational institutions in Punjab.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, while issuing notice to the Centre, sought the assistance of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and appointed senior advocate TR Andhyarujina as amicus curiae in the matter. "Can Muslims, who are in majority in Kashmir, still be treated as minority? Can Sikhs be minority in Punjab? Can Christians be minority in Meghalaya," the Bench asked.

The Bench was informed by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), that the contesting parties were students who may not be interested any more in the outcome of the case having got admission elsewhere. "This is a serious issue on which we need assistance of the Centre," the court said and issued notice to the Minority Affairs Ministry.