India News | SC to Hear Plea of Maharashtra Muslim Cop Suspended for Keeping Beard in Violation of Rules

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) The Supreme Court agreed to consider hearing a plea raising an issue whether suspension of a Muslim person from a police force for keeping a beard violates the fundamental right to practice religion under the Constitution.

Article 25 of the Constitution pertains to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.

Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Poll Strategist Prashant Kishor Planning To Field Woman Candidate in Every Lok Sabha Segment.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra agreed to examine the issue.

The plea was of a Muslim constable of Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force (SRPF). He was suspended for keeping a beard, violating the Bombay Police Manual of 1951.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Woman Dies by Suicide Over Dowry Harassment and Fights Over 'Habit of Making and Posting Reels on Instagram'.

"This is an important issue of the Constitution... We will list the matter for hearing on a non-miscellaneous day," the CJI said, after being told that the case was before the Lok Adalat and remained unresolved.

Zahiroddin S Bedade had approached the top court in 2015.

Earlier, the bench had offered to revoke his suspension if he agreed to shave his beard. The petitioner, however, had then refused to accept the condition.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)