A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court headed by the Chief Justice Vijender Kumar Jain on July 31 dismissed an appeal filed by two Muslim officers of the Indian Air Force. The two officers – Ansari Aaftab Ahmed, leading aircraftsman, and Mohammad Zubair, Corporal – had challenged the order of a judge, wherein he had dismissed a petition filed by the two Muslim officers, demanding permission to grow beard while they are in service. They were denied permission to sport a beard by the Indian Air Force on certain grounds. They had claimed that their religion does not allow them to shave off their beard.
However, Justice Permod Kohli held that “if members of disciplined force are permitted to behave according to their own wishes and desires, it will surely disturb the public order in the force and may create chaotic conditions”. In his detailed judgment, Justice Kohli held: “Growing beard at the most can be stated to be a personal choice and the same is not a compulsive requirement of a person following Islam. Yet even if it is presumed to be so, it can be regulated, restricted if public order, morality and health so requires.”
The two officers had moved in an appeal before a Division Bench challenging the order of Justice Permod Kohli. The division bench headed by Chief Justice Vijender Kumar Jain dismissed the appeal filed by the two.