The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (March 16) upheld the ban on hijab in schools saying that wearing of the headscarf is not an essential religious practice.
The court in its ruling stated that the prescription of school uniforms by the State is a reasonable restriction of the students’ rights under Article 25 and thus, the Government order issued by the Karnataka government dated February 5 is not violative of their rights.
The court based its order on Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s book The Holy Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary which states “For Muslim women generally, no screen or hijab (Purdah) is mentioned, but only a veil to cover the bosom, and modesty in dress – footnote 3760 to Verse 53,”
In response to this verdict, male students of the New College in Chennai, which is a Muslim institution, held a protest in their college premises.
The protestors said that chants of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ divides people while the chant of ‘Allahu Akbar’ unites people.
Students of New college #Chennai protest against #HijabVerdict #HijabBan by raising slogans..
They are seen saying "Chants of Jai shri Ram divides people on Religious lines, whereas chants of Allahu Akbar unites people" #TamilNadu #HijabRow #HijabControversy #protest #college pic.twitter.com/x00Rcu2N3z
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 16, 2022
A controversy erupted in Karnataka over the wearing of hijab by certain Muslim students after certain leftist portals reported that about 6 girls from Government PU college in Karnataka’s Udupi district were denied entry into classrooms for wearing hijab.
It had turned into a political slugfest with one side accusing the other of communalizing the matter.
The petitioners in the hijab case have now challenged the Karnataka High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.