Hijab Row: The High Court had earlier on Wednesday referred the case to a larger bench.
The Karnataka Court today said the matter will be heard again on Monday. The High Court said that till the matter is pending, students should not wear any religious garments. A three-judge bench of the Court, headed by the Chief Justice of the state, heard a case to decide if schools and colleges can order students to not wear the hijab in classrooms.
The High Court on Wednesday referred the case to a larger bench in view of "the enormity of questions of importance which were debated".
"These matters give rise to certain constitutional questions of seminal importance in view of certain aspects of personal law," the judge hearing the case had said while referring it to a panel of judges to be led by the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi.
The case had been filed by a group of Muslim girls studying in government colleges in the Udupi district against a ban on wearing hijabs in classrooms.
Muslim girls at a government school in the state were recently denied entry into the classroom for wearing headscarves, which authorities claim is not allowed. These women have been protesting against the move, saying they should not be denied an education for their choice of clothes.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed for calm after announcing all high schools in the state would be closed for three days.
Here are the Highlights on the Hijab Row:
Members Of All India Students' Association Protest Over Hijab Row In Karnataka; Detained
The Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) staged a protest outside the Karnataka Bhawan here on Thursday in solidarity with the Muslim students of the southern state over the issue of prohibition on the wearing of hijab.
The protesters alleged that they were "beaten" up by police, around 50 of them were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station.
"Several protesters have been dealt injuries. Madhurima Kundu, AISA JNU secretary, was scratched with nails by the constables of Delhi Police. Police have stolen AISA placards and dafli and are refusing to return it. We demand action against the police officers who attacked Madhurima and other women comrades," the students' body said in a statement.
Governments, Parties Must Ensure That Society Is Not Divided: Ajit Pawar On Hijab Row
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday termed the raging controversy on 'hijab' in neighbouring Karnataka as "unfortunate", and said that governments and political parties must ensure that society is not divided.
Mr Pawar, without naming any party, said "unfortunately some people" were trying to seek political mileage from the controversy.
Hijab Row: Delhi Police Detain All India Students Association Workers Protesting Dress Code In Karnataka Schools
Delhi police on Thursday detained All India Students Association workers marching towards Karnataka Bhawan in the national capital to protest against the Karnataka government's rule on dress code in schools.
On Thursday Karnataka High Court, after the hearing of petitions challenging the ban on hijab in colleges, asked students not to wear 'religious things' till the disposal of the matter.
The Hijab protests in the state began in January this year when some students at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka alleged that they had been barred from attending classes. During the protests, some students claimed they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab.
Wearing Hijab One's Personal Choice: Telangana Rashtra Samithi K Kavitha
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLC and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha on Thursday spoke on the Karnataka Hijab controversy, said wearing a Hijab is one's personal choice and as a society, no one has a right to oppose it.
"Wearing a Hijab or not wearing a hijab is a personal choice. As a society, we've no right to interfere in their personal choice. I'm a married woman, I put vermilion when I want, like how it's my choice," said K Kavitha.
According to her, the politics of Hijab and religion should be kept away from the educational institutions so that girls' opportunities are not hindered.
"Women have been subjected to various discrimination. Finally, in this century, we are getting some opportunity to go ahead and do something. When these issues like Hijab are politicized in schools and colleges, the opportunities of these girl children will be seriously hindered," said Kavitha.
"I request them to keep politics out of the educational institution", the TRS MLC added.
Police Have Been Directed To Ensure Law And Order: Karnataka Home Minister Police have been directed to ensure law and order while maintaining extreme restraint in dealing with students. Students should not fall prey to communal elements who are hell-bent on making the hijab issue a tool to disturb communal harmony: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra
Karnataka Hijab Row: Telangana Rashtra Samithi Leader Kavitha Writes Poem To Support Girls
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLC Kalavakuntla Kavitha penned down a poem to lend support to girls participating in the Karnataka Hijab protest.
The TRS leader took to her official Twitter handle today and posted a poem with the caption "Let women decide what they are comfortable in embracing and wearing".
"Wearing and applying Sindoor is my conscious choice Wearing Hijab is Muskan's choice. Let women decide what they are comfortable in embracing and wearing. #DontTeachUs," the TRS leader tweeted.
In her poem, the former MP also said that despite the actions of divisive forces, "We are all one - we are Indians".
Karnataka Chief Minister to hold a meeting with Education and Home Department today evening
Hijab Ban Case: Karnataka High Court Posts Matter for Monday
The Karnataka High Court said it will hear the matter again on Monday at 2.30 pm. "We are ready to decide the issue at the earliest. But we feel that peace and tranquility should be restored. Till decision, you should not insist for wearing these religious clothes which are not conducive. It is a matter of few days. Please cooperate."
Congress Mindset Behind Hijab Row: Karnataka BJP Chief
Alleging that the mindset behind the hijab row is that of the Congress, Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel on Thursday said as part of the grand old party's 'toolkit', an attempt is on to create a wrong impression about India at the world stage.
He also hit out at the Congress' state President DK Shivakumar, accusing him of spreading lies and inciting people.
"As part of the Congress' toolkit, an attempt is on to create a wrong impression about India at the world stage. It is part of a systematic conspiracy to disturb communal harmony," Mr Kateel said in a video statement.
"For political reasons and due to selfish motives, the Congress is trying to undermine India's dignity before the world," he said, adding that the mindset behind the hijab row is Congress' and it is 'dangerous.' The Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada was reacting to Shivakumar's claims that students hoisted saffron flag by replacing the tricolour at the Government First Grade College in Shivamogga, during an anti-hijab protest on Tuesday.
Three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and also comprising Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi begins hearing various petitions