NY.NY: Mr. Charan Singh Kalsi was hired by Transit Authority (TA) of New York on December 6.1993. He was terminated from his employment on December 10, 1993 for his refusal to wear a hard hat. In an informal hearing with the TA administration, prominent Sikh community leaders pointed out to the TA that their position in terminating the services of Mr Kalsi is indefensible in law and inconsistent with the regulations governing the use of hard hats to wit.

  1. OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) which is the governing body for work place safety specifically exempts Sikhs from the requirements of wearing hard hats.
  2. NYS PESH (Public Employee Safety & Health) Bureau in Albany also follows the OSHA guidelines and exempts Sikhs from wearing hard hats.
  3. Public Law 103-141 (Freedom of Religion Act) recently enacted and signed into law by President Clinton further requires all employers not to enact any regulations which interfere with free exercise of religion unless & Compelling state interest can be demonstrated and no other alternative exist.
  4. Long Island Rail Road, a sister agency of TA and also governed by MTA, exempts Sikhs from hard hat requirements.
  5. There are several examples of Sikhs Working for major corporations like NY Telephone, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Con Edison, and federal government agencies where Sikhs have been given exemption from Wearing hard hats at work.
  6. In a recent landmark case involving the Royal Canadian mounted police in Canada the Sikhs won the right to wear turban instead of hats and helmets. During the British rule in India, the Sikhs who constituted 40% Of the Indian army, were allowed to ‘wear turbans instead of steel helmets even in the battle fields, Even here in the United States, as pointed out by the NBC correspondent covering the Kalsi case, Sikh soldiers fighting in the allied forces during World War II were exempted from helmet wearing requirement by an order of General Eisenhower, In fact, an order revoking an exemption from helmet requirement for Sikh soldiers in US ‘armed services is of very recent origin, President Reagan having signed the executive order.

In spite of this evidence which overwhelmingly supports Mr. Kalsi’s position to retain his job, TA has refused to reinstate Mr. Kalsi. This case has wide implications not only for the Sikhs but also for the free exercise of all religions. As such, it must be pursued vigorously at all levels social, political and legal.

 We must be prepared to challenge this unjust policy of the TA through ill available means including judicial process, if necessary. We urge you to Support this fight wholeheartedly with your moral and financial support.

Tax deductible contributions may be made by check to Sikh Renaissance Institute, C/O 433 Hamilton Ave., Hewlett, NY 11557. Please make sure that the check indicates that the contribution is for the “HARD HAT CASE.”

For additional info,, please contact any of the following members of the Committee handling this case.

Inderjit Singh, Coordinating Secretary (718) 788-0135

Saljivan Singh Khalsa, Legal Counsel (212) 493-7657

Charan Singh Kalsi (201) 628-9130 Baljit Singh Rana (908) 271-0383

Kuldip Singh (718) 847-0135 Ujagar Singh (914) 428-6950

Any correspondence in this connection may please be directed to: Amarjit Singh, 433 Hamilton Ave.,

Hewlett, NY 11557 33

Ph., (516) 569-2827 Fax (516) 569-5416

Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1994