Karnataka Hijab Row: Prohibitory orders clamped in Bengaluru; HC’s three-judge Bench to hear case today

The Karnataka High Court will hear the petitions questioning the ban on the wearing of hijabs by students in colleges. The plea would be heard by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. The two others are Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M Khazi. Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Krishna S Dixit, who was hearing the case, referred the petitions to a larger bench. Meanwhile, considering the seriousness of the situation and to prevent the confrontation in Bengaluru, the administration has clamped prohibitory orders for two weeks. The hijab protests began last month at the Government Girls PU College in Udupi when students alleged that they had been barred from classes for insisting on wearing hijab. Protests for and against the ‘hijab’ then intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places.  

Karnataka Hijab controversy: What is Article 25 & the Govt’s order – Explained

The controversy related to Hijab in Karnataka first erupted in January at a government PU College in Udupi where six students who attended classes wearing headscarf in violation of the stipulated dress code were asked to leave the campus. The row spread to different parts of the state with other community students too responding by turning up in saffron shawls. The row has also taken a political colour as the ruling BJP stood strongly in support of uniform-related rules being enforced by educational institutions, calling the headscarf, a religious symbol, while the opposition Congress has come out in support of Muslim girls.

Every institute has its own dress code, discipline, decorum, says Naqvi

In a veiled attack at Congress amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said some people have decided in indulge in “communal and criminal competition” to misinform people on the uniform. Speaking to ANI, Naqvi said, “Every institute has its own dress code, discipline and decorum. But some people here have decided to indulge in a communal and criminal competition to misinform people on the uniform.”

Hijab row: Tense situation in K’taka, 15 held for violence

Tense situation continued in Karnataka in the backdrop of incidents of violence reported due to the hijab row. The police have arrested 15 persons so far. In spite of curfew orders in Shivamogga district, the NSUI members on Wednesday morning entered First Grade Degree College and PG Research Centre. They brought down the ‘Bhagva Dhwaj’ or saffron flag and hoisted the Tricolour on Wednesday morning. The police rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd. They have secured both the flags. Authorities have clarified that ‘Bhagva Dhwaj’ was hoisted on the empty flag post in Shivamogga college on Tuesday. They have denied that Bhagva Dhawj was hoisted after taking down Tricolour.

Protest in Hyderabad in support of Hijab

Students from Nizamia Unani Tibbi College and Anwarul Uloom College in Hyderabad on Wednesday staged a protest in solidarity with the students opposing ban on Hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka. The girl students at the Unani medical college near historic Charminar staged silent protest expressing their solidarity with those in Karnataka fighting for the right to wear Hijab. Holding national flag and placards, the burka-clad protesters condemned the attempts to target girl students in the neighbouring state. ‘Hijab is my right and Hijab is my pride’, ‘I respect what you wear, you should respect what I wear’ and ‘Judge me by what is in my head, not by what on my hand’ read some of the placards. ‘What is my Hijab got to do with my education,’ asked another. “Hijab has nothing to do with education. We have right to education but some people are trying to deny us that opportunities by raking up this issue,” said a student.

HC’s three-judge Bench to hear Hijab case today

A three-judge Bench of the Karnataka High Court will hear on Thursday the petitions questioning the ban on wearing of hijabs by students in colleges. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and comprising Justice Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M. Khazi will take up the petitions for hearing at 2.30 p.m on Thursday.

News Credit: India TV News