New Delhi: The CJI led SC bench began hearing pleas challenging the High Court order. The three-judge bench of Karnataka HC on Thursday had ordered students to refrain from wearing any religious attire to the educational institutions until the matter was resolved. The bench had posted the matter to Monday for further hearing.
Meanwhile, a Muslim girl had challenged the state HC’s interim orders approaching the Supreme Court on Thursday. The appeal contended that the high court has sought to curtail the fundamental right of Muslim student women by not allowing them to wear the hijab. The student who has challenged stated that the practical exams begin from February 15th and any interference on students access to educational institutions would impede their education. She argues that Hijab is within the constitutional right of expression, right to privacy and Freedom of Conscience, so the HC order violated the constitution.
“The government has issued an order thereby denying entry to the Muslim Women wearing Hijab in the educational institutions. The impugned order creates an unreasonable classification between the non-Muslim female students and the Muslim female students and thereby is in straight violation of the concept of secularism which forms the basic structure of the Indian Constitution. The impugned order is also in sheer violation of Articles 14, 15, 19, 21 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and also violates the core principles of the International Conventions that India is a signatory to,” the appeal read.
Schools and colleges in the state were shut down as tension escalated after the protestors started stone-pelting and sloganeering. On Thursday, CM announced secondary schools to resume physical classes after being shut for three days. Decision on seniors is yet to be taken.