Hijab row: Karnataka HC restrains students from wearing religious attire
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday restrained students from wearing hijab or any religious attire till the matter is pending with the court. The court will hear the matter again on Monday at 2:30 pm. An HC bench—comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices KS Dixit and JM Khazi—put the interim restrain after the matter was transferred to a larger bench on Wednesday.
Why does this story matter?
The HC was hearing a plea filed by Muslim girls studying in government colleges in Udupi opposing a ban on hijabs in classrooms. Those supporting the ban say students should follow the dress code and educational institutions are not places of practicing religion. Student protests across Karnataka intensified over the past weeks. Consequently, the Karnataka government has shut schools for three days until Friday.
What did the court say?
"We are ready to decide the issue at the earliest. But we feel that peace and tranquility should be restored," the HC said on Thursday. "Till decision, you should not insist [on] wearing these religious clothes which are not conducive (sic)," it added. When the petitioner objected to the restraining order, the HC replied, "It is a matter of [a] few days. Please cooperate."
No provision for uniform in Karnataka Education Act: Students' lawyer
Representing the petitioner students, advocate Sanjay Hegde reportedly claimed the girls faced discrimination as they have been barred from attending classes since December 2021. Hegde submitted there was no provision for school uniforms in the Karnataka Education Act. Meanwhile, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi—appearing for Karnataka's government—said while the government wishes to reopen schools, it cannot resume classes with students wearing headscarves or saffron shawls.
'Too early,' says SC on hijab case transfer from HC
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court had also refrained from appointing a date to hear a plea seeking the transfer of the matter from the HC to the apex court. The SC said it is "too early" for it to intervene. "If we list the matter the High Court won't hear the matter," said a bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana.
