The Supreme Court will hear next week the appeals filed against the Karnataka High Court verdict, which had upheld the right of educational institutions to ban wearing of hijab in college campus.
“The girls are losing out studies. This matter was filed long back,” said advocate Prashant Bhushan on behalf of the appellants who have challenged the High Court verdict.
“It will be listed some time next week Bhushan,” the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana replied.
The apex court had in March declined request for urgent listing of appeals against the High Court verdict.
Muslim students in Karnataka have been protesting the ban on hijab in educational institutions, saying the Islamophobic move of the Karnataka government violates their religious freedom guaranteed under India’s constitution.
Muslim students, activists, and Opposition leaders across the country allege that these attacks on Muslim symbols and practices are part of the larger Hindutva agenda of imposing majoritarian values on the country’s 200 million Muslims.
The state government’s prohibition on the hijab in educational institutions with a mandatory uniform was confirmed by the Karnataka High Court, and the hijab has been outlawed on most campuses in the state since then.
