Muslims in Air Force cannot grow beard, rules Indian SC
SC ruling stated that discipline of Indian Air Force is not interference in religious rights
NEW DELHI (Web Desk) – The Supreme Court in India has stressed on the discipline of Indian Air Force by giving remarks, on Thursday, that no Muslim will be allowed to grow a beard on the basis of religion.
It further stated that the decision of banning beard by federal government is not a violation of basic human rights.
It must be noted that a Muslim airman named Ansari Aftab Ahmed in the Indian Air Force lost his job after growing a beard without the permission of his commanding officer in 2008. In his defense, Ansari persisted that growing a beard is a basic human and religious right.
As a proof, he gave the example of Sikhs who are given permission to grow beards and wear turbans. Ansari stuck to his point that he deserves the same rights. Another officer Muhammad Zubair was dismissed on the same charges.
Both Ansar and Zubair challenged this order in Delhi High Court. However, the court’s one-member bench and later its divisional bench rejected the application which made them appeal in the Supreme Court. This time too, the ruling was against their favor and the Supreme Court emphasized on the maintenance of discipline over religious rights.
