SC to examine if Muslims in police can sport beard

The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to examine if it was religious discrimination against Muslims to prevent them from sporting a beard as members of a uniformed force while their Sikh counterparts can continue to have it.

A bench of justices P Sathasivam and J S Khehar issued notice to the Centre and Maharashtra government on a plea made by constable Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade, facing disciplinary proceedings for refusing to shave his beard.

Staying the actions initiated against him months ago, the court sought response from the Union and state governments within four weeks on his petition. Senior advocate Anoop G Chaudhari, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that while a central government rule permitted Muslims to keep beard different state governments had prohibited the same.

“Different norms by the state governments are leading to perplexity,” he contended.