Hijab ban: Karnataka HC order only affects Muslim women, petitioner tells SC

A fresh petition has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the interim order of the Karnataka High Court which restrained students from donning religious dresses in educational institutions.

The special leave petition has been filed by a student who said the interim order only affects Muslim women and has in effect suspended article 25(1) for the Muslim community in Karnataka.

Subjected to public order, Article 25(1) guarantees right to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.

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The petition before SC said the Karnataka HC order will affect only Muslim hijab wearing women and creates "unreasonable classification" as no other community will be directly affected by the ban on religious dress.

Seeking a stay on the interim order, the petitioner produced the text of LiveLaw live tweets of Karnataka High Court proceedings since the High Court has not yet released the order copy.

A full bench of the Karnataka high court on Thursday heard the hijab ban case and said it wants the matter to be resolved at the earliest but till the time the matter remains pending students are not allowed to wear religious clothing in schools and colleges to maintain peace and tranquillity.

On Thursday evening, the Supreme Court had refused to urgently list a plea challenging the Karnataka government's rule on dress code in schools and colleges, saying let the high court hear it first.