Bread row: Salim moves to SC with fresh petition

New Delhi, May 24: Supreme Court's judgement refusing a Muslim student's plea to sport beards in educational institutions by observing it would not permit 'Talibanisation of the country' and has been challenged by an aggrieved youth by way of a fresh petition.

In his petition Salim, a student, had sought a review of the judgement and submitted that the observations on 'Talibanisation' and has caused incalculable damage to the country's image and to the judiciary, besides, hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.

Salim, a student of Nirmala Convent Higher Secondary School, in Madhya Pradesh had earlier challenged the institution's rule which prohibited students from sporting a beard in the school. After Madhya Pradesh High court had upheld the validity of the rule, Salim appealed in the Apex court which dismissed his plea and observed that secularism cannot be overstretched and 'Talibanisation' cannot be permitted.

Justice Markandeya Katju who was part of the bench with Justice R V Raveendran had observed, "We don't want to have Talibans in the country. Tomorrow a girl student may come and say that she wants to wear a burqa, can we allow it?"

The Apex court said that a minority institution has its own set of rules and rights provided by Article 30 of the Constitution and the same cannot be breached by any person. Further the petition stated "the failure to do so constitutes a grave error of law and calls for a review of the impugned order."

OneIndia News