Karnataka hijab ban | Supreme Court to deliver judgement on October 13
The Hindu
On March 15, the Karnataka High Court ruled that a hijab is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court judgement refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state.
According to the Supreme Court cause list, a Bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia will deliver the judgement in the matter on Thursday.
The Bench had reserved its verdict on the pleas on September 22 after hearing arguments in the matter for 10 days.
On March 15, the Karnataka High Court dismissed the petitions filed by a section of Muslim students of the Government Pre-University Girls College in Karnataka's Udupi seeking permission to wear the hijab inside classrooms, ruling it is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith.
During the arguments in the Supreme Court, a number of counsel appearing for the petitioners had insisted that preventing Muslim girls from wearing the hijab to the classroom will put their education in jeopardy as they might stop attending classes.
Counsel for the petitioners had argued on various aspects, including on the state government's February 5, 2022 order which banned wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges.
Some advocates had also argued that the matter be referred to a five-judge constitution Bench.