Hindu police official reprimanded for wearing Ayyappa Deeksha mala in Hyderabad, Telangana

Case ID : 45f4ece | Location : Hyderabad, Telangana, India | Date of Incident : Mon, 24 November, 2025

Case ID : 45f4ece

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

24 November, 2025

Hindu police official reprimanded for wearing Ayyappa Deeksha mala in Hyderabad, Telangana

Undecided cases

Case Summary

A Hindu Sub-Inspector was served a notice in Hyderabad, Telangana, for wearing the Ayyappa mala while on duty. The incident involved Sub-Inspector C. Anjayya, who was posted at the Falaknuma Police Station and had undertaken the Ayyappa Deeksha, a religious observance followed by Hindu devotees before visiting the Sabarimala temple. During this period, devotees maintain celibacy, wear black Ayyappa Deeksha attire, and follow specific religious and spiritual practices. The officer had worn the sacred mala while performing his official duties. His superior, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Falaknuma Division, issued a notice under Rule 11 of the Telangana State Police Subordinate Service Conduct Rules, 1984, which prohibited executive police personnel from practising or displaying any religious symbols that conflicted with the prescribed uniform during duty hours. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticised the Hyderabad Police, asserting that the notice reflected prejudice against Ayyappa devotees. Party members questioned whether the police were acting under the influence of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), highlighting that members of the Muslim community were permitted half-day exemptions for fasting, whereas Hindu officers observing Ayyappa Deeksha faced restrictions. The BJP condemned the notice as arbitrary and discriminatory, demanding its immediate withdrawal and warning of serious protests if the directive was not revoked. In response, the police administration maintained that the rule was not directed against any particular religion and applied uniformly to all personnel. Officials explained that executive staff were prohibited from performing religious rituals during duty hours, while administrative officers could do so with prior approval from their senior authorities.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

In this case, a Hindu Sub Inspector in Hyderabad was issued a notice for wearing the Ayyappa mala during Ayyappa Deeksha while on duty, a decision that immediately triggered allegations of discrimination from Hindu groups. The mala and the accompanying observances, like wearing traditional black attire, are considered sacred by Ayyappa devotees, and the action taken by the police administration was viewed by many as undue interference in a Hindu officer’s religious practice. This incident has emerged in a broader context where public institutions, including schools and government departments, have repeatedly debated where to draw the line between uniform discipline and religious freedom. A comparable national debate unfolded in Karnataka in 2022, when Muslim students insisted on wearing hijabs inside classrooms. The judiciary, government officials, and social commentators at the time maintained that institutions have the authority to enforce uniform codes that override individual religious attire. The principle presented then was straightforward: uniforms exist to maintain neutrality, equality and institutional discipline, and restrictions rooted in uniform policy do not automatically equate to religious discrimination. The same principle could apply here. Police rules governing conduct and uniformity apply to all executive staff regardless of religion. The notice served to the Sub Inspector cites an existing regulation that bars officers on active duty from wearing religious symbols or clothing that deviates from the prescribed uniform. If this rule has been consistently implemented and does not selectively target Hindu officers, the case may be one of administrative enforcement rather than religious hostility. However, if evidence were to emerge showing that members of another community were allowed to wear visible religious symbols or attire, while Hindu officers were penalised for similar practices, the matter would take on a different character. Such differential treatment would substantiate concerns of discriminatory enforcement and reveal a hostile environment where Hindu religious expression is curtailed while other communities receive preferential treatment. Based on the information available at present, no such confirmed disparity has been documented. Therefore, this incident is being placed in the ‘Undecided’ database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. If further information emerges demonstrating unequal enforcement or bias specifically targeting Hindu religious practices, the case will be reclassified as a hate crime rooted in discrimination against the victim's Hindu identity. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on the date when the event actually occurred, not when it was reported by the media. In this case, the exact day on which the Hindu Sub Inspector was first issued a notice for wearing the Ayyappa mala during duty has not been clearly mentioned in media reports. Therefore, for documentation purposes, the date on which the incident was first reported in the media, 25 November 2025, is being used as the indicative date of occurrence.