Stories
Sikh Lawyer Refuses Oath to King in Canada Supreme Court Battle
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News18•05-10-2026, 15:04
Sikh Lawyer Refuses Oath to King in Canada Supreme Court Battle
- •Sikh lawyer Prabhjot Singh Virring refused to take the mandatory oath of allegiance to the King, citing a violation of his religious freedom.
- •To practice law in Alberta, candidates must take an oath to the King, creating a conflict between Virring's career and his Amritdhari Sikh faith.
- •The Alberta Court of Appeal previously ruled in Virring's favor, declaring the mandatory oath unconstitutional and an unjustified limitation on religious freedom.
- •The Alberta government appealed the decision, and the case has now officially reached the Supreme Court of Canada for a final ruling.
Key Questions Answered
Prabhjot Singh Virring refused to take the oath to the King because he is an Amritdhari Sikh whose lifelong allegiance is to God, and his religious faith prohibits him from swearing allegiance to any earthly ruler or king-queen.
In December 2025, a three-judge panel of the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled unanimously in Virring's favor, declaring that forcing lawyers to take an oath to the King is an unjustified, unconstitutional violation of religious freedom and ordering changes or repeal of the provincial law.
After the Alberta government appealed the appellate court's decision in February 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada officially agreed to hear the case in August 2026 to make a final decision.
