SC dismisses plea by IAF officers for growing beard

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that not allowing Indian Air Force (IAF) officers to grow beard on religious grounds did not amount to infringement of fundamental rights.

The court delivered the verdict while dismissing the separate pleas of two Muslim IAF officers. They had argued that the 2003 notification by IAF authorities prohibiting growing beard was in contravention of fundamental rights and a Ministry of Home circular of 1990.

The IAF authorities had maintained that such prohibition was not made on religious grounds but were secular and necessary for maintaining the cohesiveness and security of the combat force.