High court issues sensational verdict in Hijab Ban case!

The Karnataka High Court today upheld the hijab ban, ruling that wearing a headscarf is not an essential religious practice.

Hijab Controversy

A few weeks ago, an allegation arose that the college administration did not allow students wearing hijab to enter a college in Udupi, Karnataka. Within a few days there were protests all over Karnataka for the same reason. Some students came to the college wearing saffron scarfs to protest against the students wearing hijab.

As the matter escalated, the state chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had announced the schools and colleges across the state to be closed.

Case

Following this, Islamic students from Udupi area lodged a complaint in the court. The students had stated in their petition that the Government's decision would rob them of their religious freedom granted by the political system. The Karnataka Government has argued in court that the decision was made because all students are required to wear only uniform.

No hijab element

Judges ruled today that "wearing of hijab by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practice in Islamic faith and therefore the prescription of school uniform is only reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to."

The judges also ruled that "the government's determination of uniforms for students is in accordance with Article 25 and does not violate the rights of students issued by the Government of Karnataka on February 5."

Following this, the judges also ordered that the petitions filed by the students in the hijab case be dismissed.

Security

Police across the state have heightened security ahead of today's Karnataka High Court verdict in the hijab case, which has caused a sensation across India.