Sikh Cop Allegedly Blocked From Growing Beard Before His New York Wedding

According to the news on Saturday, a Sikh police officer in New York has supposedly been prohibited from growing a beard.

According to an AP story, the New York State Police has been accused of forbidding one of its employees, a Sikh, from growing a beard despite state law requiring employers to respect employees’ duties to maintain their appearance in accordance with their religion.

According to the article, State Trooper Charanjot Tiwana wanted to grow his beard half an inch for his 2022 wedding but was turned down since doing so would jeopardize his safety while wearing a gas mask.

 

The religious requirement that Sikh males wear turbans and not cut their beards or hair conflicts with state police grooming standards, which call for short hair and a shaven appearance.

 

According to the article, Tiwana, a state trooper for six years, had not officially requested permission to wear a turban while doing his duties because he refused to grow a beard.

 

“All New Yorkers, including law enforcement officers, must be free from employer oppression when practicing their religion,” he was reported as saying by the Associated Press.

 

Tiwana’s request was granted by the police, who refused to comment on the specifics via a NYSP spokeswoman.

 

Police spokesman Deanna Cohen said the agency encourages diversity and inclusion among its members and participates in the process of reasonable accommodations.

She claims that NYSP is also developing a turban policy, according to the article.

 

According to the study, law enforcement organizations in the US have recently relaxed grooming standards put in place in the early 20th century, which were partially intended to give police a military appearance. Otherwise, they risked legal repercussions.

 

According to the article, a federal judge decided in 2022 that the Marine Corps could not exclude Sikh recruits wearing a turban and beard from entering.