The Supreme Court on Monday said that it would examine in detail, the case of Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade, a constable in the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), who was suspended for keeping a beard.
The Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, while calling it an important issue of the Constitution which must be argued, listed the matter for hearing on a non-miscellaneous day.
The Counsel for Bedade apprised the Bench that the civil appeal was part of the Lok Adalat, which could not be settled.
Earlier on April 13, 2017, the policeman had refused to agree to the offer of the Apex Court that it would revoke his suspension if he shaved.
The Bench, led by the then Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, and also comprising Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, had expressed regret over the situation but stated that Bedade could be reinstated if he agreed to keep his beard only during religious periods.
However, Bedade’s Counsel had declined the offer, arguing that Islam did not endorse the concept of a temporary beard.
The matter pertained to 2012 when Bedade, who was serving as a constable in the SRPF, was initially granted permission to grow a beard. However, this permission was later revoked following amendments to the Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force’s policy, which required personnel to adhere to specific grooming standards.
On December 12, 2012, the Bombay High Court upheld the SRPF’s decision, stating that Bedade could only keep his beard during religious observances, citing the force’s secular nature and the need for discipline.
Bedade then approached the Apex Court. While refusing an urgent hearing, the top court of the country referred to a similar case it had dealt with earlier.
Bedade’s SLP has been pending in the Court since January 22, 2013. On December 15, 2016, the Apex Court had ruled in the case of Indian Air Force (IAF) official Mohammad Zubair that unless keeping a beard was an integral part of one’s religion – such as in the case of the Sikh community – personnel could not be permitted to grow a beard.