Authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have suspended a Muslim sub-inspector for keeping a beard without permission.
A sub-inspector identified as Intesar Ali, who joined the police force three years ago in Baghpat, was dismissed from his post on charges of disregarding state uniform norms by keeping a beard.
SP Baghpat Abhishek Singh, who issued the order for Ali’s suspension said that as per the police manual only followers of Sikhism are allowed to keep a beard, because it is an integral part of their faith, while all other policemen have to remain clean-shaven. The authorities ruled that keeping a beard was not a fundamental right as it was not a fundamental tenet of Islam.
“If any police personnel want to keep a beard, he has to seek permission for the same. Intesar Ali was repeatedly asked to seek permission but he did not comply and kept the beard without permission,” the SP said.
However, it was reported that Ali had applied for permission from his senior officials in November 2019, to keep a beard but got no response.
“I do my duty and also do my namaz. I never thought I would be punished like this for keeping a beard. I have my right to live and follow my religion,’ Ali said, “there are two more Muslim cops with me here but they do not have beard and it is their choice; I cannot force them to follow my path.”
According to the Indian Supreme Court regulation 425(b), only those Muslim personnel who had maintained a beard along with mustache at the time of commissioning or enrollment prior to 1 Jan 2002, would be allowed to keep it.
“Such personnel are to maintain it in a manner that it is neat, trimmed, and tidy and not more than the length which could be covered by one fist. Muslims who have grown a beard after joining the service should shave off their beard. Under no circumstances, shall a Muslim person who had a beard at the time of joining service before 1 Jan 2002 be allowed to maintain the beard without a moustache. A moustache should be a part of the beard”, states regulation 425(b).
The Muslim cop appealed to the Supreme court, and the court agreed to let him keep his beard if he agreed to grow his beard only during religiously significant periods. However, choosing religion over duty, the cop refused the Supreme Court’s advice to shave and rejoin the force, saying there is no concept of a temporary beard in Islam.
Following the news of his suspension, a Twitter profile run by the opposition Indian National Congress’s West Bengal youth wing said “But who doesn’t have a beard? The Prime Minister also has a beard? Will he resign then?”
A study by Tata Trust in 2019 showed that the Muslims constitute around 15% of India’s 1.3 billion population and has a low representation in the police force.
