No Saffron Shawls, Hijab In Class For Now: What Karnataka High Court Said
NDTV
Hijab Row: The Karnataka High Court, which is hearing petitions by six students against hijab restrictions, has asked for the reopening of schools and colleges.
All students must avoid wearing the hijab, saffron shawls or any religious clothing in class "until further orders", the Karnataka High Court said in an interim order while hearing a petition challenging a "dress code" by some colleges restricting hijabs in class. The order is only for colleges that have specified a uniform or dress code.
"We request the State Government and all other stakeholders to reopen the educational institutions and allow the students to return to the classes at the earliest. Pending consideration of all these petitions, we restrain all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa), scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders," said the bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi.
The High Court said it is pained by "the ongoing agitations and closure of educational institutions since the past few days (sic)".
It said the court is aware of the case and important issues of constitutional significance and personal law are being seriously debated.
