Karnataka Hijab Row: Supreme Court Gives Split Verdict, CJI To Get Involved
I feel like no matter where I turn, currently, women’s basic choice to have the freedom to wear what they want is being taken away. Take a look at what is happening in Iran, where women are fighting for the right to choose if they want to wear the hijab or not and are being killed over mere strands of hair. And with the ongoing Karntaka hijab row in India too, I feel like we also have forgotten the concept of choice. The Supreme Court just gave a split verdict on the hijab row has sparked more confusion and has prompted the involvement of the Chief Justice Of India.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a split decision on a slew of appeals challenging restrictions on Muslim girl students wearing hijab at Karnataka educational facilities. The Karnataka government circular requiring uniforms and outlawing all religious garb, including the hijab, was upheld by Justice Hemant Gupta. He denied the 26 appeals made against the Karnataka High Court’s ruling that the headscarf was not a requirement for practising Islam.
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Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, in a dissenting opinion, permitted the appeals and stated that it was a matter of choice for Muslim women, “nothing less than nothing more.” The three-judge bench was given the task of resolving the dispute brought about by the Karnataka government’s circular of February 5 after the court directed that the matter be brought before the CJI.
The current Chief Justice of India, UU Lalit, will step down on November 9, and Justice DY Chandrachud will become the 50th Chief Justice of India. The prohibition on wearing the hijab in Karnataka’s educational institutions is expected to remain in effect as long as the legal impasse over the politically touchy topic lasts. Until the supreme court renders a verdict, the Karnataka high court’s order upholding the ban on the hijab at educational institutions would remain in effect.
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I personally am still unsure as to why this is an issue. Women should be allowed to wear what they like and if a hijab makes them feel more comfortable, then what is the issue? How is that hindering their education or disrupting classes? I personally see no other reason there needs to be this ban other than this need to control and monitor what women are wearing.
