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- Karnataka Hijab Ban Case; Supreme Court On Petitions Against High Court Order
2 hours ago
The Supreme Court will hear again next week in the hijab ban case in Karnataka’s educational institutions. The counsel for the petitioners, Prashant Bhushan, had sought an early hearing in the court citing the loss of education of the girl students. On Wednesday, a bench of Justices NV Ramana and Krishna Murari took note of the lawyer’s argument and said that the petition was filed on March 15, which has been a long time. There has been no hearing on this yet. Therefore, the hearing will be held next week only.
In March this year, the High Court had given its decision on wearing hijab in schools and colleges in Karnataka. The court had dismissed all the 8 petitions made by other people, including Muslim girls, in support of the hijab, after which the petitioners filed a petition in the Supreme Court the next day i.e. on March 15.
On March 14, the High Court had given a decision against Hijab
The Karnataka High Court had said two important things in its decision regarding the ongoing tussle on this matter. First- Hijab is not a mandatory part of Islam. Second- Students cannot refuse to wear the prescribed uniform of school or college.
High court upheld the ban on hijab in schools and colleges
On March 15, the High Court dismissed all eight petitions filed by Muslim girls and others in support of the hijab. Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Khaji Jayabunnesa Mohiuddin had also refused to set aside the February 5 order of the state government, which had made school uniforms mandatory.
Security was beefed up outside the residence of Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi ahead of the High Court’s decision. All types of processions and gatherings were banned by imposing Section 144 in five districts of Karnataka including the capital Bengaluru.
The dispute started on January 1
The controversy over the hijab in Karnataka started on January 1. Here in Udupi, 6 Muslim girl students were barred from sitting in a class room in the college for wearing hijab. The college management had cited the new uniform policy as the reason.
After this these girls filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court. The girls argue that not allowing them to wear the hijab is a violation of their fundamental right under Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution.