By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: In a big positive development post-Katju apology the Indian Air Force has decided to have a fresh look at its tough stand not to allow a Muslim personnel to sport a beard. The 1.3 lakh-strong force has informed the Supreme Court of its changed mind. So far the force had defended its order prohibiting Muslims from sporting beard, saying the practice not universally recognised in Islam.
But now the IAF and the Central Government seems to have realised their insistance on the anti-Muslim beard order could lead to a big controversy. Only a couple of weeks ago the government saw Supreme Court Judge Justice Markandya Katju apologising for his Talibanization remark on Muslim beard and withdrawing his order upholding the Madhya Pradesh High Court order which had justified a school ruling wheryby a Muslim student was not allowed to come to school in beard.
Katju’s apology was the result of rigorous and nationwide protest by Muslim leaders and organziations condemning the observation of the justice that allowing Muslim students to sport beard would lead to Talibanization of the country. Spearheading the protest renowned spiritual leader and Sajjada Nasheen of Khanqah Munger, Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani, had met Union Law Minister and Prime Minister apprising them of the hurt Muslims nationwide had felt with the judge’s observation, and urging them to revoke the order.
Following Justice Katju’s reversal, it seems, the Central Government informed the apex court last week about its changed mind. Appearing for the government, additional solicitor general Indira Jaising told a Bench comprising Justices D K Jain and H L Dattu on July 20 that the government was taking a fresh look at the issue. The Bench has deferred the hearing for eight weeks, saying: “The ASG appearing on behalf of the Union of India states that fresh thought is being given to the controversy raised in the present petition. She prays for adjournment.”
IAF personnel Mohammad Zubair had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the force’s policy not to allow Muslim recruits to keep beard if on the date of joining they did not have it. In an affidavit in response to the petition, the IAF had told the court: “All Muslims do not carry beard. The practice of growing and keeping beard is optional and sporting a beard is not universally recognised in the religion of Islam. Therefore, it cannot be said that Muslim religion prohibits the cutting of hair or shaving of the face of its member.”