Karnataka Hijab Row: High Court order- Open school-college, ban on wearing religious clothes till the verdict, now hearing on Monday
Karnataka Hijab Row Updates: In the hearing of the full bench of the Karnataka High Court, the wearing of religious clothing like hijab or saffron gamchha has been prohibited until a decision is reached. Schools and colleges have also been asked to reopen.
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The Karnataka High Court, hearing the hijab controversy, adjourned the case until Monday, February 14, 2022. During a hearing held on Thursday, February 10, a full bench of the Karnataka High Court issued an interim order banning the wearing of religious clothing until the verdict is released. The school college has also been directed to reopen.
The state board examinations are scheduled for March 2022, and schools and colleges throughout the state are closed due to the controversy. The students are suffering greatly as a result. As a result, the High Court has issued an interim order for the time being. In a statement, the High Court said it would issue orders for schools and colleges to reopen. Students should also refrain from wearing any type of religious clothing, such as scarves, pots, etc. until the matter is resolved. Harmony and peace should prevail.
On Thursday morning, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi constituted the three-judge bench comprising Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khaji under his chairmanship. A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court regarding the matter, but the Supreme Court asked to await the Karnataka High Court’s decision.
At the hearing, the court said we are considering whether wearing the hijab is a fundamental right or a religious obligation. In addition to this, the High Court also instructed the media not to report the proceedings. The bench said it would wait for the final judgment in the case.
There is no special provision for school uniforms in the Karnataka Education Act
On Thursday, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioner, argued that there is no specific provision related to school uniforms in the Karnataka Education Act. In reflecting on his school-college days, Hegde said that there were no uniforms at his time. Uniforms for pre-college were introduced much later. Their violation is not punished.
Arrangements for interim relief
The petitioners’ advocate, Hegde, told the bench he was willing to sit down and discuss interim arrangements in the matter with the Attorney General during the hearing. Devdutt Kamat and Kaleeswaram Raj have agreed to the demand to make interim arrangements on behalf of the other parties.