Karnataka Hijab Row: Students Skip School, Exams; HC Adjourns Hearing Till Wednesday

The hijab row in Karnataka continued to take the centre stage on Tuesday as more than 35 students, who were denied entry into their classrooms for wearing their headscarves, began a demonstration on the school campus in Kodagu district. Similar incidents were reported across the state as students skipped schools and exams or chose to register their protest as politics intensified over the issue.

The hijab controversy has started a debate across the country with the Karnataka High Court taking up the matter for hearing, which resumed at 2.45 pm on Tuesday. The matter was, however, adjourned till Wednesday afternoon.

In its interim order, the high court had ruled against wearing any religious outfits to colleges.

The three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi, started hearing the matter on Tuesday.

Senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, who appeared for petitioner in the case, referred to a judgment of a South Africa court. The issue was whether a Hindu girl with roots in South India could wear nose ring in school, news agency ANI reported. He referred to the judgement which says that “this case is not about uniforms, but exemptions to existing uniforms”.

“South Africa’s judgement also said that if there are other learners who hitherto were afraid to express their religions or cultures and who will now be encouraged to do so, that is something to be celebrated, not feared,” advocate Kamat said.

After hearing the arguments from both the sides, the bench adjourned the matter for Wednesday.

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