A pilot employed by IndiGo, a private airline, has taken his case to the Bombay High Court, requesting a directive from the Union government permitting him to carry a 'kirpan' during his flights.

Angad Singh, a pilot employed by InterGlobe Aviation, the company behind IndiGo, asserted in his petition to the Nagpur bench of the high court that he is entitled to carry a kirpan as an expression of his religious freedom, safeguarded under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

On Monday, a division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri issued a notice to both the Union government and the airline, requesting their responses. The bench has scheduled the next hearing for January 29, 2024, to further address the matter.

Advocate Saahil Shyam Dewani, representing Mr. Singh, highlighted that the Ministry of Civil Aviation's restrictions need modification. He pointed out that on March 12, 2022, the government issued guidelines allowing Sikh passengers to carry a kirpan of specific dimensions, indicating the need for similar accommodations for pilots.

The guidelines explicitly stated that employees, even those of the Sikh faith, employed at airports or airlines were prohibited from carrying a kirpan. The petition argued that this directive constituted a breach of his fundamental rights.

The petition further contended that permitting passengers to carry a kirpan aboard a plane while denying the same right to airline staff contradicts logic and fairness.