NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court referred the petition against the Karnataka High Court verdict upholding the government's ban on hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka to a larger bench. The bench, comprising justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia heard the petitions for ten days and gave a split verdict in favour and against. Justice Hemant Gupta upheld the Karnataka High Court verdict while Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia quashed the verdict. Following this, the case was referred to a larger bench.

During the hearing of the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Karnataka government, had argued that the hijab ban was made a big issue due to the Popular Front's propaganda. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the Hijab ban denies the academic opportunities to Muslim girls. The bench had said during the hearing that allowing religious symbols may help students get acquainted with diversity.