Karnataka Hijab Ban Verdict: High Court had temporarily banned religious clothing.
new Delhi:
The Karnataka High Court will deliver its verdict on the Hijab Ban case today. The hijab, or headscarf worn by Muslims, became a flashpoint when students were not allowed to enter classes before removing them. 5 students had challenged the ban in the court.
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Ahead of the verdict, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gyanendra met Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his residence and briefed him about the security and police department. The court is expected to pronounce the verdict at around 10.30 am.
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The state government has banned large gatherings in the state capital Bengaluru for a week “to maintain public peace and order”. Mangalore has also banned large gatherings from March 15 to 19. Udupi district administration has declared holiday for schools and colleges today.
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The Karnataka High Court last month temporarily banned religious clothing, including hijabs and saffron scarves, as the controversy turned into protests and several Muslim students were being harassed by a section of students dressed in saffron scarves , arguing that they were also associated with religious identity.
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The petitioners, including a dozen Muslim girl students, have told the court that wearing the hijab is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of India and the essential practice of Islam. Eleven days after the hearing, the High Court had reserved its decision on February 25.
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Since then teachers and students in many parts of the state were not allowed to enter schools and colleges to wear the hijab. There was widespread outrage for allowing videos of Muslims publicly removing the hijab inside educational institutions. The High Court had then clarified that the temporary ban was applicable only to the students and not to the teachers.
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The controversy over the hijab started in Karnataka late last year when students at a school in Udupi refused to remove headscarves and stop using them, despite requests from teachers. After this five students went to court.
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On 5 February, Karnataka banned “clothes that were against law and order” and on 10 February the High Court temporarily banned all religious organizations as it heard petitions challenging the restrictions.
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While the matter was being heard in the court, which had reserved the verdict, more than 100 students were not allowed to take the final practical examination.
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Late last month, the Karnataka government argued before the high court that wearing the hijab was not a necessary religious practice of Islam and that prohibiting it did not violate constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
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Karnataka’s move led to protests in some other parts of the country and criticism from the United States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.