What is there in moustache? Probably it is the sign of virility. Indians have been associated with moustache since ancient days.

Showing the same virility, an employee of Indian Airlines lost his job 7 years back, but did not trim his moustache. After losing the battle in the Calcutta High Court, Joynath Victor De, a steward with the national carrier, approached the apex court for restoration of his job. After hearing the preliminary arguments, a bench comprising Justice H K Sema and Justice Markandey Katju issued a notice to the Indian (earlier Indian Airlines) to file a response to the plea of De who had been fighting the court battle since 2001. De was retired compulsorily at the age of 55 on January 11, 2001 after he refused to trim his moustache.

However, a single Judge bench of the Calcutta High Court had directed the Indian to restore his job holding the order illegal. But a two-judge bench had justified the order of the Indian. The main contention of the Indian Airlines in the High Court was that De had been violating the instructions issued on uniform turnout specially with regard to moustache. 

Indian Airlines and Air India share the logo Maharaja, the proud owner of a handlebar moustache.
“The neatly trimmed moustache was very much in keeping with the aviation tradition and drew attention to the Maharaja logo of Air India wherein a similar moustache was in view,” said the petition. But the Indian in its official order said that the employee could not look after the passengers properly if he kept a big moustache.