[Hijab Ban] "Do you want to bring these things to national level; we are watching:" Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would interfere in the Hijab ban controversy at the appropriate time, even as it asked the petitioners not to spread the issue at a larger level [Dr J Halli Federation of Masajids Madaaris and Wakf Institutions]..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana said that the Court is following the controversy and the proceedings before the Karnataka High Court and asked parties not to escalate things to national level. "Don't spread these things to larger levels. We are watching, we know what is happening in the State and in the High Court also...Let us see, we will interfere at the appropriate time," the CJI said.He also underscored that Constitutional rights are for everybody and the top court will protect the same.This was after an appeal was mentioned against the Karnataka High Court's interim order proposing to bar students from wearing religious garments to educational institutions in the State pending the disposal of the petitions challenging the Hijab ban was mentioned in the apex court today..The matter was mentioned by Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat who argued that the interim order would have far reaching implications not only for Muslims, but for persons of other faiths as well.Appearing for the State, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the High Court order has not been uploaded yet on the website.Even as Kamat asked that the matter be listed for Monday, CJI Ramana said,"Constitutional rights are for everybody and this court will protect it. We will list at appropriate time," the CJI said..A Full Bench of the Karnataka High Court headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi had on Thursday heard four petitions filed by Muslim girl students who were not allowed to attend classes at colleges in the State on account of wearing Hijab.Counsel appearing for the petitioners argued that interim relief should be granted even as the Court decides the matter. As the hearing drew to a close, the Chief Justice had orally remarked that the Bench would pass an interim order restraining the petitioners and other students from wearing any religious garment or headdress, till the matter is disposed of."We will pass an order that let the institutions start, but till the matter is pending, these students and stakeholders will not insist on wearing any religious garment or head dress. We will restrain everyone. We want peace and tranquility....Till the disposal of the matter, you people should not insist for wearing all these religious things. We will restrain everyone (in the interim) from adopting all these practices," the Chief Justice had said.A copy of the order is yet to be uploaded on the High Court website..The appeal before the top court said that the interim order creates a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim female students and directly hits at secularism, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution."The right to wear hijab falls under right to expression under Article 19(1)(a), right to privacy and freedom of conscience under Article 25. The same cannot be infringed upon without a valid law," the plea said.The students had approached the Karnataka High Court after certain government colleges banned Muslim students from attending classes wearing hijab. After the students came to college wearing Hijab, Hindu students appeared with saffron shawls and turbans.The Karnataka government then issued a government order (GO) empowering college development committees to prescribe uniform for respective colleges. This GO was also challenged before the High Court..Read a live account of the hearing before Karnataka High Court here.Read more on the State’s affidavit before the High Court here.Read more about the petitions before High Court here and here.