NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court strongly criticized the petitioners' demand to postpone the petition against the hijab ban in Karnataka government educational institutions. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that those who had earlier complained six times that the petition was not considered urgently are now asking to postpone the case. The bench added that it would not permit such kind of forum shopping. The Supreme Court rejected the request of the petitioners to adjourn the petition for two weeks and posted them for a detailed hearing on September 5. The court has also sent a notice to the Karnataka government.

On March 15, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the Karnataka government's decision to ban the hijab in educational institutions. The students approached the court against this verdict, six months ago. However, the Supreme Court was not ready to consider the request for urgent hearing of the petition. The Karnataka government has also filed an interlocutory plea seeking to hear its arguments before passing the interim order. Apart from the female students, the Supreme Court has also issued notices to 23 petitions filed by organizations and individuals such as Muslim Personal Law Board, Samasta, Samasta Kerala Sunni Yuvajana Sangh and others. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta conveyed the demand of the petitioners. Following which, Justice Hemant Gupta got angry suggested that the case will not be extended and the hearing will begin on September 5 itself.

The petitioner's counsel replied that he came to know about the list of petitions on Sunday and that the lawyers from different parts of the country would not be able to arrive on Monday. In response, Justice Gupta said that one can reach Delhi from Karnataka within two-and-half hours.