The controversy revolving around the Hijab row finally reached a conclusion as the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday announced its verdict over the ongoing row. Petitions challenging a ban on hijab in education were referred to a bench of three judges from a single bench of the Karnataka High Court and the verdict was due on March 15. A three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna Dixit, and Justice JM Khaz delivered their verdict and observed that wearing Hijab is not an essential practice of Islam.
At the outset, Karnataka Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi stated that the bench formulated a few questions such as whether wearing hijab is essential religious practice under Islam and whether the Government Order of February 5 was issued without any application of mind. The court ruled that wearing of Hijab by Muslim women is not a part of essential religious practice under Islam.
Furthermore, it added that the prescription of the school uniform is only a reasonable restriction that students cannot object to. The Karnataka High Court held that the state government has the power to issue a Government Order. Thus, it dismissed all writ petitions filed by Muslim girl students seeking permission to wear Hijab in colleges and challenging the government order of February 5.
Security beefed up after Karnataka High Court Hijab row verdict
As per IANS, security has been beefed up across the state as a precautionary measure. Holiday has been declared in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi and Shivamogga for the schools and colleges on Monday. Most of the districts have imposed prohibitory orders in the surrounding areas of the educational institutions. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant has issued prohibitory orders restricting protests, celebrations and gatherings in the entire city for seven days from Monday.
How did the Hijab row start?
The Hijab row started as a protest by six students of the Udupi Pre-University Girl's College, turned into a big crisis. The issue has become a matter of discussion at the international levels also. The counsels appearing for the petitioners had contended that restrictions on hijab to classrooms is a violation of fundamental and religious rights. There is no legal standing for the School Development Committee (SDC) or College Development Committee (CDMC).
They had also argued that wearing of hijab is an integral part of Islam. However, the Advocate General and other counsels appearing for the government argued that wearing of hijab is not an essential part of Islam. They have also stated that the government respects the wearing of hijab and it had been left to the discretion of SDMC and SDC's.