EPS accepts complaints regarding KRI Certified Kundalini Yoga Teachers, KRI Teacher Trainers, and participants in KRI Level One Teacher Training (collectively referred to as Teachers) and Sikh Dharma International Ministers of Sikh Dharma (SDI Ministers).
When EPS receives such a complaint via its Complaint Hotline (1-888-805-4888 – USA/Canada) or Complaint Webform the following procedures for the receipt, preliminary review, investigation, and adjudication of take place:
- EPS will acknowledge receipt of the Complaint within two (2) business days.
- EPS will review the Complaint and determine the appropriate process to be followed. If an anonymous Complaint is received through the helpline/hotline EPS will determine whether it has sufficient information to initiate a Complaint Procedure. If a Complaint Procedure is initiated, the person(s) bringing the Complaint is referred to as the Complainant and the person(s) who the Complaint is about is referred to as the Subject of Complaint.
- EPS will contact the Complainant to provide an overview of the process to be followed.
- EPS will bring the Complaint to a team from the EPS Global Ethics Commission (GEC) to plan the investigation. Another GEC member will be assigned to serve as a Guide for the Complainant and will check in with the Complainant on at least monthly basis throughout the process.
- The timing of the notification of the Subject of Complaint will be determined as part of the investigation plan.
- A Guide will be assigned to the Subject of Complaint at the time of notification.
- After being notified of the Complaint, the Subject of Complaint shall not have any contact with the Complainant. Any contact with the Complainant may lead to further action by EPS.
- Any kind of retaliation by Subject of Complaint will result in disciplinary action.
- The Subject of Complaint shall maintain confidentiality about the identity of the Complainant and circumstances of the Complaint both during and after the Complaint Procedure.
- EPS will investigate the Complaint.
- Once the Subject of Complaint is notified of the Complaint involving conduct identified in one or more sections of the Code of Ethics & Professional Standards of a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, the Subject of Complaint must send EPS a written, signed Response within ten (10) business days, unless a longer period of time is approved by EPS. (EPS will provide a Response Form to the Subject of Complaint).
- If the Subject of Complaint does not respond in writing within ten (10) business days, EPS will send a Warning Letter giving them an additional ten (10) business days to respond.
- If the Subject of Complaint does not respond in writing within ten (10) business days after the Warning Letter is sent, EPS will send a Notice to Take Action giving them a final five (5) business days to respond.
- If the Subject of Complaint does not respond in writing to the Notice to Take Action within five (5) business days, they will be immediately Suspended without further notice. KRI, 3HO, IKYTA, NKYTA, and Yoga Alliance will be notified as appropriate, and this change of status will be posted on the EPS website.
- Suspension means:
- Cannot teach Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan®
- Cannot represent 3HO, KRI, IKYTA, any NKYTA
- Cannot host, administrate, or teach at any KRI Level One, Two or Three Teacher Training Program
- Teacher trainers cannot act as a KRI teacher trainer or mentor
- Suspension means:
- The Complaint will continue regardless of the lack of participation by the Subject of Complaint which results in their Suspension pending the completion of the Complaint Procedure.
- EPS will prepare a report of the investigation which will be presented to the full EPS Global Ethics Commission (“the Commission”).
- The Commission will adjudicate whether or not the conduct occurred based on the applicable standard of proof.
- The Commission will determine the appropriate consequences. Consequences will be based on the nature and severity of the harm and may include but not be limited to Probation, Suspension, and Revocation. Conditions of Probation and Suspension may include financial restitution.
- EPS and KRI will communicate the Commission’s Decision in writing to the Subject of Complaint. EPS will also inform the Complainant that the Decision has been reached, as well as any other entities as appropriate, including but not limited to 3HO, IKYTA, local NYKTA, SSSC, and/or Yoga Alliance.
- The Guide for the Complainant may continue to check in with the Complainant after the Complaint Procedure is completed unless the Complainant declines.
- The Subject of Complaint or the Complainant may appeal the Decision solely on the basis that the consequences imposed were not fair or not in alignment with the core values of 3HO, IKYTA and KRI, in relation to the findings.
- An Appeal Request Form must be sent in writing to EPS within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the Decision.
- EPS will promptly submit the Appeal to the Appeals Panel.
- The Appeals Panel will issue its decision within forty-five (45) business days of the date the appeal was filed.
Special Circumstances:
In the case of criminal charges or other serious circumstances involving conduct that, if proven true, would constitute a violation in the KRI Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct or the Code of Ethics for Sikh Dharma International Ministers, EPS may immediately Suspend a Subject of Complaint/KRI Certified Teacher/SDI Minister pending conclusion and outcome of criminal or other proceedings.
In the case of the Subject of Complaint resigning before the completion of the Complaint Procedure, the status of the Subject of Complaint is immediately changed to Revocation (permanent suspension).
In order to maintain the integrity of the Complaint Procedure, EPS does not entertain Counter Complaints against the Complainant, EPS, or any of the SSSC Organizations.
To File a Complaint, please click HERE.
If you have any questions about the Complaint Procedure or Appeal Process, kindly contact EPS at info@epsweb.org
Updates currently in progress, March 2022.