CHENNAI, India (RNS) Senior Muslim clerics in India say they may appeal a Supreme Court decision that ruled against a Muslim teenager who wanted to grow a beard even though his Catholic school requires students to be clean-shaven.

The 16-year-old student, Mohammad Salim, had already lost a state court battle over his right to grow a beard, which he believes is required by his Islamic faith.

Salim’s lawyer, retired judge B.A. Khan, argued in the Supreme Court that keeping a beard was an indispensable part of Islam. “But you (Justice Khan) don’t sport a beard,” countered Justice Markandeya Katju, who with Justice R.V. Raveendran constituted the bench hearing the appeal.

Leading Muslim clerics were angry over Katju’s observation that growing a beard was akin to promoting “Talibanization” in the country.

“This is a shocking remark and has hurt the sentiments of community members. We are planning to file a plea against the verdict,” said Maulana Mehmood Madni, a member of India’s upper house of parliament and a Muslim leader.

He added that Indian Muslim scholars “are vehemently opposed to Taliban and its dangerous agenda. The (Supreme Court) verdict may affect our efforts to quell misconceptions about Islam.”

Another leading cleric, Zafarul Islam Khan, called Katju’s remarks “unfortunate.” “Growing a beard is … part of the Muslim faith. Our organization will approach the court against the verdict.”

Katju, in the course of the arguments, said secularism could not be overstretched and “Talibanization” of the country could not be permitted. “We don’t want to have Talibans in the country. Tomorrow a girl student may come and say that she wants to wear a burqa. Can we allow it?”