02-21-2006, 04:27 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->IAF officialâs plea on choti
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, February 20
<b>In a unique case, a âHinduâ Indian Air Force official has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to the respondents, including the top brass of the armed forces, not to force him to cut his tuft of hair (choti). </b>
A similar petition, this one having been filed by a Muslim soldier seeking that he be allowed to keep a beard, is also pending in the High Court.
The petitioner, Mr Naresh Kumar, has said that he joined the service in 1987 and since then he has been sporting the tuft of hair. However, last year, on September 7, 2005, his senior officer, Flying Officer M. Singh, issued him a show-cause notice for keeping the tuft of hair. The show cause notice also directed him to cut the hair.
The petitioner is at present posted at 18 Wing, Air Force Station, Pathankot.
Saying that he replied to the show-cause notice the very next day, the petitioner has said that he was issued a fresh show-cause notice a few days later. He replied to this show-cause notice also. However, he is being threatened with dire consequences in order to force him to cut the tuft of hair.
<b>The petitioner has stated that when he joined service, no objection was raised to his keeping the tuft of hair. He has also claimed that the tuft of hair was part of his religious practice.</b>
www.tribuneindia.com/2006...ab1.htm#12<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, February 20
<b>In a unique case, a âHinduâ Indian Air Force official has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to the respondents, including the top brass of the armed forces, not to force him to cut his tuft of hair (choti). </b>
A similar petition, this one having been filed by a Muslim soldier seeking that he be allowed to keep a beard, is also pending in the High Court.
The petitioner, Mr Naresh Kumar, has said that he joined the service in 1987 and since then he has been sporting the tuft of hair. However, last year, on September 7, 2005, his senior officer, Flying Officer M. Singh, issued him a show-cause notice for keeping the tuft of hair. The show cause notice also directed him to cut the hair.
The petitioner is at present posted at 18 Wing, Air Force Station, Pathankot.
Saying that he replied to the show-cause notice the very next day, the petitioner has said that he was issued a fresh show-cause notice a few days later. He replied to this show-cause notice also. However, he is being threatened with dire consequences in order to force him to cut the tuft of hair.
<b>The petitioner has stated that when he joined service, no objection was raised to his keeping the tuft of hair. He has also claimed that the tuft of hair was part of his religious practice.</b>
www.tribuneindia.com/2006...ab1.htm#12<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->