Bihar Jewellers Say Customers With Covered Faces May Be Denied Gold, Silver Purchases Over Security Concerns

Jewellery shops across Bihar may refuse the sale of gold and silver to customers whose faces are covered, citing security concerns amid rising prices of precious metals, according to the State unit of the All India Jewellers and Gold Federation (AIJGF).

The federation said customers wearing hijabs, niqabs, burqas, scarves, masks or helmets could be asked to briefly uncover their faces for identification before entering jewellery stores or completing purchases. The guideline, it said, applies equally to both women and men.

Ashok Kumar Verma, president of the AIJGF’s Bihar chapter, said the decision was driven solely by safety considerations and was not aimed at any particular community or religion. He stressed that jewellers are only requesting customers to make their faces visible for identification and that no confrontation or coercion is intended.

According to the federation, incidents of robbery and theft involving masked individuals have increased in recent months, prompting jewellers to adopt stricter precautions. With gold prices hovering around ₹1.40 lakh per 10 grams and silver nearing ₹2.5 lakh per kilogram, the stakes for security have risen significantly, Mr. Verma said.

He added that senior police officials in Patna had been consulted and raised no objections to the advisory, noting that similar measures are already followed in select districts of other States. Bihar, however, would be the first State where the guideline is being implemented uniformly by jewellers’ associations. The move has drawn criticism from the Opposition. Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed termed the advisory unconstitutional and against India’s secular ethos, arguing that it could infringe upon the fundamental right to religious freedom. He alleged that forces linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were encouraging such measures.

Jewellers’ representatives, however, reiterated that the advisory does not amount to a ban on religious attire and is intended only to ensure the safety of customers and shopkeepers.

The issue has emerged against the backdrop of recent debates in Bihar over religious expression in public spaces, including a controversy involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that had triggered political and social discussion across the State.