The group which formed Canada's first Sikh cadet regiment has filed a lawsuit claiming to have been ousted by factions aligned with Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan.

According to the B.C. Supreme Court notice of civil claim, the Friends of the Sikh Cadets Society claims its agreement to fund the regiment was unilaterally terminated in June by the Army Cadet League of Canada.

The society claims the move was the result of a "conspiracy orchestrated and/or emanated" in part from Sajjan's office.

"The conspiracy was fuelled by rival Sikh factions aligned with Minister Sajjan which led to undue interference of the operations by the society and its ultimate ouster," the claim states.

"As a result of the conspiracy, the operations of the 3300 BCR British Columbia Regiment (Bhai Kanhaiya) are in disarray, leaving stranded dozens of teenagers and their parents in one of Canada's fastest growing cadet program(s)."

Honouring heritage of Sikhs in Canadian Forces

The Sikh cadet regiment was formed in 2012 to honour the heritage of Sikhs in the Canadian Forces.

The claim cites an email from an ex-staff member of the regiment which alleges Sajjan "did not like certain members of Friends of (the) Sikh Cadets Society" including society chairman Harbinder Singh Sewak.

Harbinder Singh Sewak (left) is the chairman of the Friends of the Sikh Cadets Society. A lawsuit claims that he was disliked by Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan. (Harbinder Singh Sewak)

The lawsuit also alleges the "conspiracy" led to a last-minute decision in April by the commander of Maritime Forces Pacific to decline the gift of a ceremonial sword at a Vaisakhi ceremony organized by members of the society.

"The order not to accept the sword was an insult to the Sikh community and made to show "that a new power" would be "taking over matters pertaining to the military participation in Sikh-related community celebration and the 3300 BCR British Columbia Regiment," the claim says.

"Prior to this and prior to the new political leadership in Ottawa, the society directors had organized similar events with the Western command of the military and had no issues."

The Friends of The Sikh Cadets Society is seeking damages for breach of contract. No statement of defence has been filed.

Sajjan's spokeswoman, Jordan Owens, said the minister "has proudly worked to promote diversity throughout the Canadian Armed Forces" both as a member of the Canadian Forces reserves and as a politician.

"Having served in the military, Minister Sajjan has great respect for the Chain of Command, and trusts them to make the decisions that have been delegated to them," Owens said in an email.

None of the claims has been proven in court.