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Committees have prescribed the student dress code/uniform,” the department clarified.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for students seeking to attend schools with hijab, on Thursday urged the Karnataka High Court that these students be allowed to wear hijab and attend classes on Fridays at least.
Top Updates on the matter
– Senior advocate Vinod Kulakarni, appearing for the students, submitted that the hijab issue has created mass hysteria and mental disturbances throughout the country, and that sending poor Muslim girls out of class is against the preamble of the Constitution.
– At least on Fridays, and ensuing holy month of Ramzan, beginning in Marc), let the students be allowed to come wearing hijab, he said, quoting a Lata Mangeshkar song, “.. Kuch paake khona hai, kuch khoke paana hai’ (to get something you lose, you lose something to get something) and sought court directions in this regard.
“I beg with my folded hands to allow hijab on Fridays and it will avoid unnecessary controversy,” he said, adding that the Quran can’t be ignored and hijab is not against public order. Outside authorities have no standing and have no authority to pass orders in religious matters and beliefs, he said.
– Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi, appearing for the state government, opposed the demand, saying that if the request is considered, it is as good as considering the petitioner’s application.
– Senior advocates Devdatt Kamat, Ravivarma Kumar and Yusuf Muchchala, appearing for the petitioners, have completed their arguments on Wednesday.
– The three judge bench, which heard the matter for the fifth consecutive day, later adjourned the matter to Friday, when Navadagi will present his arguments.
– On the international front, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday reiterated its stand on foreign intervention in the matter, saying comments by outsiders on internal issues will not be acceptable.
– Responding to a question on the Hijab row at a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “This is not a topic of the Ministry of External Affairs. We don’t have a direct comment. You would have seen our statements that this being an internal matter of India, any comment on it by an outsider or another country is not welcome.”
– He asserted that India has a constitutional mechanism, judicial system and democratic ethos which gives a framework to find solutions to such things. “And this issue is sub-judice. The Karnataka High Court is looking into it,” he added.
– Comments by outsiders on internal issues and matters relating to India’s Constitution and its people will not be acceptable, Bagchi said. India had last week also rejected criticism by some nations over the row and said that “motivated comments” on the country’s internal issues are not welcomed.
– Bagchi had said that those who know India well would have a proper appreciation of the realities. India on Tuesday had also slammed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its “motivated” comments against it and accused the grouping of having a “communal mindset”, a day after the bloc expressed concerns over the Haridwar hate speeches and the dress code row in Karnataka.
– Bagchi had said that the OIC continues to be “hijacked” by “vested interests” to further their “nefarious propaganda” against India, seen as a thinly veiled reference to Pakistan. Meanwhile, responding to another question on Quad during Thursday’s briefing, Bagchi said the grouping had come a long way in a short time. It has had a physical meeting at the heads of state level and also had foreign ministers’ meets, he noted.
– The topics that it is discussing are positive in terms of being a force for global good, Bagchi added.
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