Hijab Ban: Karnataka High Court observed that the Quran does not mandate the wearing of hijab
The Supreme Court today agreed to list pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court order on hijab ban in educational institutions. Hearing will be held after Holi vacations. The hijab is not an essential religious practice, the Karnataka High Court said yesterday upholding the ban on hijab in classrooms.
A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for some students, that urgent hearing was needed keeping in mind the upcoming examinations.
“The urgency is that there are many girls who have to appear in examinations,” the senior lawyer told the bench which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli.
“Others also mentioned, let us see...we will list after the vacations. Give us time,” the CJI said.
The Hijab row had erupted in January this year when the Government PU College in Udupi allegedly barred six girls wearing the hijab from entering. Following this, the girls sat in protest outside the college over being denied entry.
After this, boys of several colleges in Udupi started attending classes wearing saffron scarves. This protest spread to other parts of the state as well leading to protests and agitations in several places in Karnataka.
The Karnataka government intervened and said that all students must adhere to the uniform and banned both hijab and saffron scarves till an expert committee decided on the issue.
The Karnataka High Court, while upholding the Karnataka government's order, said that the prescription of uniform is a reasonable restriction that students could not object to.
In its order, Karnataka High Court observed that the Holy Quran does not mandate the wearing of the hijab, and stated that it is a cultural practice and is used as apparel as a measure of social security.
Soon after the verdict, the order was challenged in the Supreme Court by Niba Naaz, a student who was not among the five who had originally petitioned against the hijab ban.