Bangalore: Petitioners who filed a plea in Karnataka HC have now moved the SC challenging the verdict ruled out by the former court. “We are of the considered opinion that wearing of hijab by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practice in the Islamic faith,” said the Karnataka High Court, refusing to strike down the state government’s ban and dismissing the students’ petitions.
A three-judge bench on Tuesday morning, taking sides with the State HC stayed the ban on the Hijab. The bench ruled that wearing Hijab does not fall under the essential practice of Islam and so it permitted the state govt to levy the law it named on February 5th.
Hours after the HC issued its order, eight students were restricted entry into Kembhavi Village PU college in Yadgir district of Karnataka as they donHijab to appear for their second PU preparatory examinations.
Following weeks of aggressive protests and counter-demonstrations on the issue of religious clothing inside classrooms in many parts of the state, the High Court today ruled that wearing of Hijab is not an essential religious practice of the Islamic faith and a school uniform is a reasonable restriction that students cannot object to.
The constitution allows us the right to profess our religion. We are shaken, we expected so much. We will not go to college without the hijab,” the girls told reporters, vowing to fight the verdict.