Alwar superintendent of police Anil Paris Deshmukh (Photo: ANI)

ALWAR/JAIPUR: Less than 24 hours after Alwar SP issued an order forbidding nine policemen, all from Muslim community, from sporting beards on “administrative grounds,” it sparked a controversy and the order was recalled.

SP (Alwar) Anil Paris Deshmukh cancelled his earlier order within 24 hours and claimed permissions were scuttled “strictly on administrative grounds” to ensure that cops appear unbiased.

“Total 32 policemen, including constables and head constables, were granted permission to grow beards. But permissions of nine of them were withdrawn purely on administrative grounds. However, new permissions have been issued to all nine of them,” read a statement issued by Alwar police to douse controversy, that included local Muslim groups calling the order erroneous and unfair.

The sources in Alwar police said that total 32 applicants were given a nod to grow beards, between July and September. But nine of the recent applicants had their “beard sanctions” withdrawn with immediate effect through an order released by Deshmukh on Thursday. Deshmukh on Thursday said the cops should act and appear “unbiased” while discharging their duty.

The order drew furious response from Muslim activists who decried the “diktat” as foolish. “It was a completely erroneous instruction. The nine cops had a prior permission to sport a beard. It is deplorable that Alwar SP took such a decision not taking into account a person’s religious sentiments,” said Sher Mohammad, leader of a Meo Muslim organisation in Alwar.

Talking to TOI, one of the nine constables said, “The SP’s orders are final and have to be adhered with. If he had decided to revoke the permission, I would have shaved off my beard,” he said on condition of anonymity. The SP’s order, however, did not go well with local Muslim groups, who castigated the order on social media and asked the SP to revisit his order.

Meanwhile, a senior official of Rajasthan police said that permissions for beards are usually granted to cops on two grounds — religious and health. “Some elderly cops on the verge of their retirement seek permission to grow beards after they return from Hajj pilgrimage. On the other hand, there are also cases of cops who are facing debilitating skin diseases which render it impossible for them to put a blade near their face,” the official said.

