The Karnataka High Court today adjourned hearing in petitions filed by Muslim girls studying in government pre-university colleges in Udupi against the government ban on Hijabs in classrooms. The court will resume hearing the pleas on Friday, after state advocate general Prabhuling Navadgi sought time to respond to the petitions.
The arguments in the case come amid simmering tension in Karnataka where late last year, students were prevented from wearing the Muslim headscarf, sparking protests and counter demonstrations involving saffron scarves that have since spread to other states.
In an attempt to calm tensions, Karnataka's state government temporarily closed schools last week but have been opening gradually over the last two days. The Karnataka High Court has imposed a temporary ban on the wearing of all religious symbols in schools while it considers the headscarf ban.
