A Muslim sub-inspector from Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Intizar Ali, who was suspended for growing his beard, has been reinstated after he reported to duty clean shaven.
Earlier, the Muslim cop had been dismissed from his post on charges of disregarding state uniform norms by keeping a beard. While Ali claimed he had sought permission in November last year, SP Baghpat, who issued the order for the cop’s suspension, had refuted the claim.
After the suspension, the matter was widely discussed on social media. Uttar Pradesh president of the All India Imams’ Association, Maulana Zulfikar, had criticised Ali’s suspension as a violation of his right to practice religion as per the Constitution of India.
“Beard is associated with Islam and therefore Ali has the right to grow it,” he had said.
This, however, is not the first time. A similar case occurred in November last year when nine Muslim policemen were asked to shave off their beards in Rajasthan.
A few years ago, an officer from the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade, had approached the court after he lost his job for growing a beard.
