Karnataka HC Prohibits Students From Wearing Religious Attire Till Final Order

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court, hearing the hijab row on 10 February, has ordered that the students will be barred from wearing religious attires in educational institutes until its final order. The next hearing will take place on 14 February.

This order puts an end to the usage of both hijab and saffron scarfs in school and college premises.

A three bench judge comprising of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S.Dixit and Justice Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin gave this interim order.

"We want to make an interim order on the matter of hijab row. We will hear the matter every day," the Chief Justice stated.

The bench said that peace and tranquility has to return to the state, and schools and colleges must open soon.

Advocate Sanjay Hedge, appearing on behalf of the students, claimed during the hearing that the girls faced discrimination in their classes for wearing the hijab. 

The students lawyer cited the Karnataka Education Act, where there was no provision for a uniform and said that uniforms were school phenomenon.

On the other hand, the Advocate General, while arguing for the Karnataka Government, said that the regime wanted uniformity in educational institutions and added that the rules applies equally to everyone. He argued that colleges cannot function with one set of students wearing hijab while another set wearing saffron scarfs.

The matter related to the hijab ban in the state of Karnataka had been referred to a larger bench by the Karnataka High Court on 9 February.

The single bench had refrained from passing interim orders allowing girl students to attend colleges wearing hijab. The single bench said that a larger bench will consider an interim relief.

Meanwhile, protests, agitations, demonstrations and gathering within an area of 200-meter radius of schools, colleges or other similar educational institutions in Bengaluru has been banned by the Karnataka police for two weeks.

Also read: Karnataka High Court Refers Hijab Ban Case To Larger Bench

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