Hijab row: K’taka HC orders reopening of schools, colleges; Restrains students from wearing religious garments till next hearing

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday has restrained the students from wearing religious garments till the next hearing scheduled on February 14.

“We are ready to decide the issue at the earliest. But we feel that peace and tranquillity should be restored. Till decision, you should not insist for wearing these religious clothes which are not conducive,” the court said.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi also ordered the reopening of schools and colleges across the state.

“We will pass an order. Let the schools-colleges start. But till the matter is resolved, no student should insist on wearing religious dress”, the bench said.

However, the petitioners’ lawyer Devadatt Kamat requested the court to consider his objection that such an order will amount to suspension of his client’s constitutional rights under article 25.

”That will be a total affront to their rights,” Kamat contended. In response, Chief Justice Awasthi said the arrangement is only for a few days till the matter is resolved and asked him to cooperate. On Wednesday, Justice Dixit, who was hearing the case, referred the case to Justice Awasthi’s consideration with a view that a larger bench may look into the case.

The Hijab row started in December end when a few students started coming to the government pre-university college in Udupi wearing Hijab. To protest against it, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves. The row spread to other educational institutions in different parts of the State, and the protests took a violent turn at some place earlier this week, prompting the government on Tuesday to declare three days holiday for the institutions.