Karnataka Hijab Row: Supreme Court Issues Notice To State Seeking Answers On Petitions

In response to petitions challenging the High Court's decision to maintain the ban on the hijab in educational institutions, the Supreme Court has requested the Karnataka government's answer. The next hearing is scheduled on September 5, but the court wasn't happy with some of the petitioners today because they had requested an adjournment after first requesting an urgent hearing.

According to a ruling made by the Karnataka High Court in March, wearing a headscarf is not a fundamental religious practice that is entitled to protection under Article 25 of the Constitution. A group of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi had petitioned for permission to wear the hijab in class, but their requests had been denied. Many people and organisations appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Karnataka Hijab Ban

Several times, these petitions were brought before a bench led by the former Chief Justice NV Ramana for an urgent hearing; nevertheless, the case was not scheduled for a hearing. It was ultimately added to the list during Justice Ramana's final week in office, and as a result, it was discussed today—the first working day for the court following the swearing-in of the new CJI, UU Lalit.

According to one of the appeals, "government officials' overbearing behaviour hindered students from expressing their beliefs and led to an unwelcome law and order issue." The High Court "vehemently failed to apply its mind and was unable to appreciate the gravity of the circumstance as well as the basic feature of the Essential Religious Practices enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution of India," according to the statement.

Six female students wearing the hijab were denied access to Government PU College in Udupi in January, sparking the controversy. It mentioned a standard code. At the campus gate, the young women participated in a sit-in. As a sort of retaliation, some Hindu students at other colleges in Udupi began showing up to class wearing saffron scarves. As the dispute moved to other regions of Karnataka, several Muslim organisations viewed it as an infringement on their rights.

Suggested Reading: Why Must Muslim Women Wearing Hijab Always Justify How Independent They Are?

The education board issued a circular on February 5 stating that only the institute-approved uniform is permitted for students to wear while attending college. According to the regulation, students should wear outfits that "go well with the spirit of equality and unity, and do not violate the social order" if management committees do not mandate a uniform.