NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said the appeals against the Karnataka High Court’s decision to uphold the government’s ban on hijab in educational institutions cannot be considered in a hurry. The court which declined to grant an urgent hearing said that the case will be heard after the Holi vacation. Senior advocate Sanjay Hedge mentioned that there is urgency in the matter, as several girls have to appear for exams. The plaintiff advocate informed the court that the high court order will affect several girls, to which the chief justice responded, “Give us time, we’ll post the matter”.

The Karnataka High Court, on Tuesday, held that wearing of hijab is not part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith and upheld the government’s order banning all religious clothing in educational institutions. It also ruled that the prescription of a school uniform is a reasonable restriction and that the Karnataka government’s order was not in violation of rights. Soon after, an appeal was filed in the supreme court against the court verdict.

The Karnataka High Court which upheld the government’s hijab ban in educational institutions also held that the wearing of hijab by Muslim girls is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islam. It was ruled that the hijab had no constitutional protection. The historical judgement was passed by a bench comprising of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice J M Khazi, dismissing the petitions filed by the students of P U College in Udupi. After the high court verdict, schools and colleges have reopened in Udupi. Section 144 will remain in force in the area.

On February 5, the students had approached the high court against the Karnataka government’s order banning clothing that violated equality and law and order in schools and colleges. Amid the hearing, the court had temporarily banned hijab and saffron scarfs in the campuses.

Curfew in Bengaluru

Ahead of the court verdict, a curfew was declared in the Bengaluru city from Tuesday till March 21. Curfew was also declared in the districts of Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Shivmoga.
Beginning of controversy

The controversy began in January when some girl students wearing hijabs were denied entry to a class in Government Pre University College for Girls in Udupi. As the student protests intensified, the government issued an order mandating uniforms in colleges. With this, the hijab controversy spread to other colleges as well. Clashes broke out in several campuses when another group of students arrived wearing saffron shawls.