EPIC: Plea in SC against photos of burqa women

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred hearing a petition challenging display of photos of burqa-clad Muslim women on electoral rolls. A Bench led by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan asked petitioner Ajmal Khan what he proposed Muslim women should do if they want to contest elections.

“If you do not want them to have their photographs on electoral rolls,please tell what they should do if they want to contest elections,which is anyway only an extension of the right to vote,” the CJI asked.

The court later posted the case after two weeks’ to give Khan time to prove the legality of his request.

Khan had approached the apex court after the Madras High Court dismissed his contention that EC’s move to have photos of burqa-clad Muslim women voters on electoral rolls was a slur on their religion.