Woman Asked to Remove Burqa at Cooper Hospital, Security Guard Issued Show-Cause Notice
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Mumbai, September 03: A woman visiting Dr R.N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle was allegedly asked by a female security guard to remove her burqa completely before entering the post-neonatal ward, prompting the hospital administration to issue a show-cause notice to the guard.
Shaikh said she told the guard that her face and identity were visible and that she should not be required to remove the burqa. “I am not hiding my face and identity,” she said, maintaining that she had the right to dress according to her choice.
Hospital dean Dr Chhaya Shinde said there was no protocol requiring women to remove their burqa entirely. According to her, the guard had misunderstood the security requirements.
She clarified that Shaikh was a visitor to the post-neonatal ward and that the guard should only have asked her to show her face or move the veil aside for identification.
The hospital said enhanced security measures had been introduced in the ward as a precaution for the safety of newborns. The guard, who was on a 10-day assignment, later apologised to Shaikh. The administration has issued her a show-cause notice, and Shaikh said she subsequently spoke with hospital officials and police.
The incident occurred around 4.15 pm on August 30, when advocate Jahanara Shaikh arrived at the ward. Shaikh alleged that the security guard asked her to remove her burqa before allowing her entry.
Shaikh said she told the guard that her face and identity were visible and that she should not be required to remove the burqa. “I am not hiding my face and identity,” she said, maintaining that she had the right to dress according to her choice.
Hospital dean Dr Chhaya Shinde said there was no protocol requiring women to remove their burqa entirely. According to her, the guard had misunderstood the security requirements.
The incident shown at BMC-run Cooper Hospital is deeply concerning. I have spoken to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) and requested immediate verification of the incident and appropriate action. No woman should face discrimination because of her attire or… pic.twitter.com/MMDoxLafnE
— Rais Shaikh (@rais_shk) August 31, 2026
“There is no such protocol that women have to remove their burqa entirely. There was a miscommunication with the security guard appointed by the BMC,” Shinde said.
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The hospital said enhanced security measures had been introduced in the ward as a precaution for the safety of newborns. The guard, who was on a 10-day assignment, later apologised to Shaikh. The administration has issued her a show-cause notice, and Shaikh said she subsequently spoke with hospital officials and police.