Author: IANS
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: September 17, 2002
The police here has locked horns
with the West Bengal Minority Commission over the question of allowing
Muslim policemen to sport a flowing beard.
The issue snowballed after a Muslim
constable was suspended for refusing to shave his beard. His suspension
was, however, revoked after the minority commission intervened. But far
from setting the controversy at rest, the incident has sparked off a furious
debate.
West Bengal Minority Commission
chairman K.M. Yusuf has called for amendments to the police service rules
to accommodate religious considerations. At least eight policemen have
complained to the commission that they were disallowed from growing a beard.
The suspension of the constable from the Murshidabad district compounded
the situation and Mr Yusuf has written to the state government for a review
of the relevant rules.
