Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Cooper Hospital Guard Faces Notice Over Burqa Request
A woman named Jahanara Shaikh went to a hospital in Vile Parle.
She says a female guard asked her to take off her whole burqa.
Shaikh says her face and identity were already visible.
She objected and said she should be allowed to dress as she chooses.
The hospital later gave the guard a show-cause notice.
This means the guard was asked to explain what happened.
The hospital dean said women do not have to remove their burqas under hospital rules.
The incident has raised questions about how security checks should respect people’s clothing and rights.
A female security guard allegedly asked advocate Jahanara Shaikh to completely remove her burqa before entering a hospital ward.
The incident occurred around 4.15 pm on August 30 at Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle.
Shaikh said she had shown her face and identity and objected that she could not be required to remove the burqa entirely.
The hospital issued a show-cause notice to the security guard following the incident.
The hospital dean said there is no protocol requiring women to remove their burqas.
- Who
- Advocate Jahanara Shaikh and a female security guard at Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital.
- What
- Shaikh was allegedly asked to remove her burqa completely before entering a ward; the hospital then issued the guard a show-cause notice.
- When
- Around 4.15 pm on August 30, described as a Sunday.
- Where
- The post-neonatal ward at Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle.
- Why
- The guard allegedly sought removal of the burqa before entry, while the hospital dean said no such protocol exists.
Visitor's account
Hospital's stated position
Whether complete removal was justified
Visitor's account
Jahanara Shaikh said she had shown her face and identity and should not have been asked to remove her burqa entirely.
Hospital's stated position
The hospital dean said there is no protocol requiring women to remove their burqas.
Response to the incident
Visitor's account
Shaikh described the request as conflicting with her right to dress as she chooses.
Hospital's stated position
The hospital issued the security guard a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation for the incident.
- Visitor
- Advocate Jahanara Shaikh
- Hospital
- Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital
- Location
- Vile Parle
- Incident time
- Around 4.15 pm on August 30
- Requested action
- The guard allegedly asked Shaikh to remove her burqa completely.
- Hospital response
- A show-cause notice was issued to the security guard.
- Stated hospital policy
- The dean said there is no protocol requiring women to remove their burqas.