Karnataka Hijab Row: Muslim Girls Move Supreme Court For Permission To Wear Hijab During Exams
SC might set up a 3-judge bench for the case!
In 2022, Karnataka Government mandated uniforms in schools and uniform dress code in all the pre-universit colleges in the state. Soon after, a government aided PU college in Udupi restricted the female students from wearing hijab to college citing the uniform policy. But the students protested against the same and even went to court to challenge the policy arguing that hijab is a religious practice and the new rule is a violation of their constitutional right. But the Karnataka High Court ruled in favour of the state government after which the Muslim students filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the order. However, the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in the matter after which the case was placed before the CJI to decide further. In the latest update, some students from Karnataka have now approached the Supreme Court seeking interim orders to allow female students to give their exams wearing their hijabs.
BREAKING: #Hijab case mentioned in #SupremeCourt
Sr Adv Meenakshi Arora: This is the headscarf matter. The girls have practicals from Feb 6 ,2023 and this matter needs to be listed for interim directions. If they can appear pic.twitter.com/A7sJA7Wvg6
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 23, 2023
Also Read: Hijab Row: Haryana Minister Says Men Should Strengthen Minds And Free Women From Hijab
Taking up the Karnataka hijab row matter, CJI DY Chandrachud noted that the matter needed to be examined further before he can set up a three-judge bench to hear the matter considering the spilt verdict issued by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court in October 2022. As per media reports, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora appeared for the Muslim students. The advocate informed the Apex Court that most of the female students have left government colleges and have joined private colleges due to the hijab ban in the government-run educational institutes in Karnataka. She further submitted that despite migrating the girls cannot give exams as private institutes are not permitted to conduct examinations and it can only be conducted in government-aided colleges.
The advocate for the female students requested the Supreme Court to list the matter for interim orders at the earliest as the exams are scheduled to begin from February 6 onwards. Making note of the application, CJI DY Chandrachud said that a three-judge bench will be set up to hear the matter and directed the advocate to submit a note regarding the case to the court registrar.
The petitioner girl students have contended that after the split verdict in #Hijab case, students moved to private colleges from govt colleges. But exams can be held only in govt colleges and thus they be permitted to appear in the exams starting Feb 6 wearing Hijab
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 23, 2023
Also Read: Twitter Enraged Over Split Karnataka Hijab Row Verdict, Says People Should Be Allowed To Choose
Earlier in 2022, several female students in Karnataka could not appear for their 10th and 12th examinations due to the hijab ban. While I understand educational institutes have a dress code in place to maintain uniformity, banning hijab does not sit well with me. Even if it isn’t an essential religious practice, at the end of the day, it should be a woman’s choice if she wishes to wear a hijab or not. Feminism has always advocated for a woman’s right to choose. Be it a bikini or a hijab, every woman is entitled to choose what she wears.
Karnataka Hijab Row: Supreme Court Gives Split Verdict, CJI To Get Involved
