The High Court had issued notices to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC), Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and others on a petition by five students.

The Sikh students from various parts of Punjab had alleged that they were denied admission by Guru Ram Das Institute affiliated to Baba Farid University on the grounds that they trim their beard, pluck eyebrows and as such do not profess the Sikh religion.

The students stated they were denied admission to MBBS despite the fact that they had secured much higher marks than those who were granted admission. The petitioners were eligible for taking admission to MBBS course. It was submitted that the college conducted its own test for remaining 50 per cent seats for MBBS course which are to be filled up from amongst students, who profess Sikh religion.

“The students secured more marks than others and were still denied admission because they trim their beard or pluck their eyebrows and as such do not profess Sikh religion,” argued the counsel for the five students.

The students had sought directions to the college to grant them admission even if the admissions already granted to others had to be cancelled.

The counsel for the petitioners had contented that there is no distinction between various clans of Sikhs viz, Amritdhari, Sahajdhari, Keshdhari and others.