The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear an appeal that questions the right of Muslim police officers to maintain a beard for religious reasons.

The case centers on a constable from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) in Maharashtra, who was suspended for keeping a beard, allegedly in violation of the Bombay Police Manual of 1951.

This appeal brings to the forefront important constitutional questions about the balance between religious freedom and uniformity in the police force. The petitioner argues that his suspension infringes upon his right to practice his religion, as protected under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

The case is set to be examined by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra.

The legal dispute originated in 2012 when the SRPF revoked an earlier allowance that permitted the petitioner to maintain his beard for religious observance. The Bombay High Court had dismissed the petition, reasoning that keeping a beard was not an essential religious practice in Islam nor supported by statutory provisions. The High Court also underscored the importance of maintaining a secular appearance in uniformed services to avoid religious or sectarian distinctions.

The appeal follows a 2017 Supreme Court deliberation on whether keeping a beard is a constitutionally protected right under Article 25, particularly in contexts involving military and police regulations. As the Supreme Court revisits this issue, the decision could have broader implications for the interpretation of religious rights within uniformed services in India.