SC reluctant about electoral roll with burqa-clad photos

The Bench adopted a cautious approach in the matter and asked the Election Commission and petitioner M Ajmal Khan to suggest a workable solution without touching the religious aspect.

“Don’t take that issue,” the Bench said when submissions on legal issues were sought to be made by incorporating the religious practices of Muslim women.

The caution from the Bench came when advocate Meenakshi Arora,appearing for the Election Commission,said that the Madras High Court had made it clear that the claim of the petitioner was not integral part of her religion.

The Bench was hearing the petition which contended that publishing photographs of Muslim Gosha women was opposed to their religious belief.

Senior advocate P S Narasimha,appearing for Khan,submitted that he was arguing on the limited aspect that some safeguard should be given to Muslim women as their religious belief did not permit the circulation of their photographs.