Hijab row verdict: Karnataka HC dismisses Muslim girls' plea, says hijab not essential to Islam

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition by a group of Muslim girls against Hijab ban in colleges. The High Court ruled that wearing Hijab is not an essential practice in Islam and the students cannot object to uniform in schools and colleges.

The petitioners had sought permission to attend classes wearing hijab in schools and pre-university colleges which had led to tension on the campuses of educational institutions in the state.

The hijab row exploded in Karnataka in December after Muslim students were not allowed inside a college in Udupi over wearing hijab.

As the issue of Hijab versus saffron scarves spread to several educational institutions in many parts of Karnataka, the state government restricted students from wearing any religious clothing.

The girls then approached the Karnataka High Court seeking relief and quashing the government order on February 5 restraining students from wearing any cloth that could disturb, peace, harmony and public order.

The full bench of the High Court heard the case on a day-to-day basis since February 10. In its interim order, the bench asked the state government to reopen the educational institutions, which were hit by the agitation, and restrained students from wearing Hijab and saffron scarves in the class-room till the final order is delivered.

Ahead of the verdict, the Karnataka government banned large gatherings for a week in state capital Bengaluru "to maintain public peace and order". Mangalore too has banned large gatherings from March 15 to 19. The Udupi district administration has declared a holiday in schools and colleges on Tuesday.

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