Author: Agencies
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 06, 2009
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-judge-apologises-for-taliban-remarks-on-muslims/485727/
Under criticism from Mulsim groups, Supreme
Court judge Justice Markandeya Katju apologised for his controversial comments
that Muslim students cannot insist on sporting beards as it would lead to
'Talibanisation' of the country.
A bench of Justices R V Raveendran and Markandeya
Katju also withdrew the order passed by it on March 30 in which it had dismissed
the petition filed by a student challenging the directive of a convent school
in Madhya Pradesh that Muslims cannot sport beard.
"During the hearing, certain observations
were made by one of us (Justice Markandeya Katju). His intentions were not
to offend anyone. However, if any one's feeling has been hurt, he apologises
and expresses regret in the matter," the bench said in an order.
The apex court said since the petitioner Mohd
Saleem had expressed apprehension that one of the judges (Katju) was biased
it was requesting the Chief Justice of India to place the matter before another
bench for hearing.
"The review petition expresses apprehension
that one of the judges was biased against the petitioner. We are of the view
that the matter should be heard by another bench. We therefore, withdraw the
order of March 30, 2009," the apex court said while referring the matter
to another bench for a fresh hearing.
Nirmala Convent High School, Vidisha, Madhya
Pradesh, had removed Mohd Saleem, a 10th class student, after he refused to
shave his beard on the ground that it was mandatory in Islam.
