The Maharashtra government’s order to a Muslim police constable not
to sport a beard, thus disregarding his plea that the order defied his
fundamental right to practice religion, is now open for sustained
judicial scrutiny.
On a lawsuit filed by aggrieved constable Zahiroddin Shamsoddin
Bedade, who faces disciplinary action for refusing to shave, the Supreme
Court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government and the Centre to
explain their stand on whether sporting beard by a member of the
uniformed force on the ground of religion’s imperative is permissible.
In
July last year, the state had initiated action against Bedade, who
joined the state reserve police force in 2008, for disobeying its
‘no-beard’ order. After the Bombay high court’s refusal to intervene in
the matter, Bedade moved the Supreme Court, seeking protection of his
right to practice religion and fulfil its obligations as guaranteed
under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
“We did some
homework and found a few high courts were against Muslim policemen
sporting beards... we will examine this issue,” the court said and
sought the Centre’s “reaction”.
Perturbed over the denial of
admission to Muslim students for sporting moustaches, the top court had
slammed a convent school in Madhya Pradesh two years ago. “There’s no
reason behind this strange logic that prohibits Muslim students from
sporting beards,” the apex court had said, directing Nirmala Convent
High School to take back a Std X student.\
“Merely because you have
a beard, they have removed you [from the rolls]? So, if you are a Sikh,
you will not be able to sport a beard,” a bench of justices BN Agarwal
and GS Singhvi had castigated the school and the state government.
Source:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_why-cant-muslim-cop-sport-beard-asks-supreme-court_1791637
More:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-23/india/36504605_1_beard-muslim-cop-religious-practice
Whats our take on this story:
The Indian Muslim Post supports the Muslim constable and our team is ready to help him in every way possible.
We urge the government to stop this kind of discrimination against the Muslims otherwise the consequences could be disastrous.
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