[BREAKING] No Hijab, Bhagwa, religious flags in classrooms till we decide the case: Karnataka High Court [READ ORDER]

The Karnataka High Court has ordered that students should not wear hijab, saffron shawls (bhagwa) or use any religious flags while attending classes in Karnataka colleges which have a prescribed uniform, till the Court decides the case relating to ban on hijab in certain government colleges [Smt. Resham v. State of Karnataka]..The interim order was passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi in a batch of petitions filed by Muslim girl students in the State claiming that they were not being allowed to enter colleges on account of the government order which effectively bans the wearing of hijab (headscarves)."Pending consideration of all these petitions, we restrain all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa), scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders," the order said.However, the Court clarified that the order is confined to such institutions with respect to which concerned college development committees have prescribed a dress code/ uniform for the students.Hence, colleges which do not have a prescribed dress code would not be covered by the order..The Chief Justice had orally remarked on Thursday evening that the Bench would pass an interim order restraining the petitioners in the Hijab ban matter and other students from wearing any religious garment or headdress, till the matter is disposed of.However, the order was uploaded on the website of the High Court only on Friday..The Bench in its order expressed its pain at the ongoing agitations and closure of educational institutions in the State, particularly when the matter which deals with important constitutional issues and personal law is currently being heard in the Court. "It hardly needs to be mentioned that ours is a country of plural cultures, religions & languages. Being a secular State, it does not identify itself with any religion as its own. Every citizen has the right to profess & practise any faith of choice, is true. However, such a right not being absolute is susceptible to reasonable restrictions as provided by the Constitution of India," the Court noted. Whether wearing a hijab in the classroom is a part of essential religious Islamic practice and should be a constitutional guarantee needed deeper examination, the Court added.."Ours being a civilized society, no person in the name of religion, culture or the like can be permitted to do any act that disturbs public peace & tranquility. Endless agitations and closure of educational institutions indefinitely are not happy things to happen," the Court stated.It also emphasised that the educational career of students should not be negatively impacted due to the present controversy and they should return to class. .The Court, therefore, called upon all stakeholders and the public to maintain peace while restraining students from wearing religious garments in institutions which have a prescribed dress code or uniform. The matter will be heard by the Court next on February 14, 2022. .Meanwhile, the petitioners have already approached the Supreme Court against the order.The appeal was mentioned before Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Friday, who said that the top court will hear the matter at an appropriate time..[Read Karnataka High Court Order]