A Muslim cop in Kerala has approached the courts demanding permission to keep a beard.
A Muslim police officer in Kerala today moved the state high court demanding permission to grow his beard in keeping with his religion. Admitting the petition, the court today issued a notice to the state government and the state police chief in the matter.
Officer Riyaz K of the Armed Reserve Police Force had written to the state police chief requesting permission to grow his beard. In support of his request, Mr Riyaz pointed out that the Army and the Navy allowed officers to keep a beard. Though Mr Riyaz was granted exemption from shaving during the holy month of Ramzan, his request to keep a permanent beard was rejected by his seniors.
In his petition to the court, Mr Riyaz pointed out that the police manual "doesn't contain any provision prohibiting growing of beard. There is also no statute, service rules or government order prohibiting personnel in Kerala police from growing a beard."
He further contended that since Sikh officers were allowed to grow their beard and hair in police and military service, it was unfair to deny the same privileges to Muslims and also violated their right to equality guaranteed under the Constitution.
While this is the first instance of Muslim police officer seeking judicial remedy for keeping a beard, many officers from both the police and army have unsuccessfully approached the higher judiciary seeking exemption from shaving. In the past the courts have usually held that keeping a beard was not integral to being a Muslim.