New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka high court judgement refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state.
A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia completed hearings on Thursday. While the petitioners had concluded their arguments on Tuesday, the solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta and additional solicitor general K.M. Nataraj and Karnataka advocate general Prabhuling Navadgi appeared for the state government and argued on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the court said it was “losing patience” and asked the lawyers to wrap up arguments.
Also Read: ‘Not Quran Interpreters’ to ‘Right to Undress’: 7 Oral Remarks by SC During Hijab Ban Hearings
On Thursday, the petitioners made rejoinder submissions. According to LiveLaw, senior advocates Dushyant Dave and Huzefa Ahmadi submitted that the arguments of SG Mehta regarding the involvement of the Popular Front of India in a “campaign” to wear hijab are wholly irrelevant and are made to cause prejudice. They argued that no material has been shown on record to show the group’s involvement.
The state government had, by its order of February 5, 2022, banned wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges.
On March 15, the high court dismissed petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom, saying it is not a part of the essential religious practice of the Islamic faith.
(With PTI inputs)