UK Gets Sikh Arbitration ‘Court’ to Deal with Family Disputes

British Sikh lawyers have come together to set up a new arbitration center or dispute resolution forum for the community caught up in family and civil disputes. It is being described as ‘The Sikh Court’ but the term ‘court’ is unclear. The Sikh Court was launched last weekend at a ceremony at the Old Hall at Lincoln's Inn in London accompanied by religious chants. Baldip Singh, a 33-year-old London-based barrister who is the chief justice of the court and one of its founders, said the court was not a religious tribunal but aimed at assisting Sikh families in their time of need when dealing with conflict and disputes ‘in line with Sikh principles.’ A welcome first in the Sikh world, but there was no disclosure of the principles of governance. The new court will operate remotely and in person, and will comprise around 30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most will be women. The magistrates will mediate between parties to negotiate a settlement and direct them to learning courses to help them to work on specific issues. Created following discussions with Sikh charities, the courses would cover low-level domestic violence, anger management, gambling and substance misuse, and are available in Panjabi as well as English. If a mediation is unsuccessful, a case can be brought in front of a Sikh judge, who can give a legally binding judgment under the Arbitration Act. This could serve as a template for the worldwide community provided details are made public and some basic questions answered. For example, what if the judgment by the Sikh Court is contrary to Sikh principles and governance?