India's Supreme Court comes to defence of handlebar moustache

India's Supreme Court has issued a notice to a state-run airline asking it to explain why an air steward was sacked for wearing a big moustache.

Victor Joynath De was grounded by Indian - formerly called Indian Airlines- in 2001 for refusing to shave off his handlebar moustache.

He had earlier lost a case in a lower court which ruled that the airline was within its rights to sack him.



According to Indian rules, all crew members should be clean shaven. A moustache, if worn, should not extend beyond the upper lip, says the rule book.

A spokesman for the airline said that some passengers could be unnerved by such a striking facial feature.

The airline has been given four weeks to respond.