The SC expressed surprise over the decision of Indian Airlines to ground a cabin crew staff and ordering his compulsory retirement for allegedly violating an instruction on “moustache”.
Supreme Court sends notices to Centre, IA on dismissal of staff over untrimmed moustache
NEW DELHI: The supreme court on Monday expressed surprise over the decision of Indian Airlines to ground a cabin crew staff and ordering his compulsory retirement from service for allegedly violating an instruction on “moustache”.
“How can a person with a moustache be removed. This is a democratic country,” a bench comprising justices HK Sema and Markandey Katju observed and issued notices to the Centre and the Indian Airlines Ltd.
Joynath Victor De, who had joined Indian Airlines as flight steward and promoted to assistant manager in flight service in 1994, had challenged the decision not to assign him flight duties and an order on compulsory retirement in 2001 from service for allegedly not meeting the instructions on uniform turnout, specifically with regard to moustache.
De, through advocate Sanjiv Sen challenged the judgment of the division bench of the Calcutta high court which set aside the single bench verdict holding that Indian Airlines had not exercised reasonably the power on regulation contained in the operation manual for cabin crew.
The petitioner submitted that he has been keeping a stout moustache as part of his family custom and spiritual faith and despite there being modifications in the operation manual from time to time for the cabin crew, he was not taken out of the flight duty.
He submitted that after circulars were issued in June and July 1998 that spiritual pursers except Sikhs should be clean-shaven with neatly trimmed moustache not beyond the upper lip, a letter was written to him to comply with the condition.
The petition said it appeared that the authorities were putting pressure on him to do away with his moustache.
Interestingly, Indian Airlines and Air India share the logo Maharaja, proud owner of a handlebar moustache.
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