Karnataka: Concluding the hearing for today, the HC posted the matter for continuation on February 17th. The Karnataka HC has been hearing the petition filed by six Muslim students on the Hijab ban in educational institutions.
While presenting their sides today, lawyers asked the HC to set a time limit for every lawyer so that the matter could be concluded as early as possible.
Senior Advocate Ravi Verma Kumar referring to a survey on religious clothes and symbols, argued that the state govt was picking up on Hijab and making it hostile discrimination, whereas India as a secular country had several religious symbols. At the beginning of the hearing, underscoring Rule 11 of the Education Act, he stated that parents are required to be informed at least a year in advance.
Flagging the state govt orders draconian, the petitioner concluded the argument saying – Muslim girls are the least represented in classrooms and govt’s orders on Hijab would be ‘draconian’ if they are shut down on the pretext of religion.
On Tuesday, Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Muslim students of Kundanpur college, drew comparisons between the decisions made by courts in Turkey, South Africa.
Earlier today, students at the Govt PU college at Vijayapura in north Karnataka were turned down. The college entrance turned into a protest site, where the authorities pressed the students to abide by the interim order given by HC. However, students claimed they were not informed that their college would also impose the order.