Hijab controversy: HC told that Karnataka’s dress code guideline is violative of fundamental rights

High Court of Karnataka commences hearing on petitions filed by Muslim girls questioning ban on hijab in colleges

The Karnataka High Court commenced hearing a batch of petitions, filed by Muslim girls studying in government pre-university colleges in Udupi district, questioning the ban on wearing hijab (head scarf) in colleges.

Justice Krishna S. Dixit, before whom the petitions came up for hearing, at the outset requested the advocates, “Let us keep aside passions and emotions, and go by the laws, the reasons, and the Constitution.”

Advocate Mohammed Tahir requested that four petitioner students of Government PU College for Girls, Udupi, be temporarily allowed to attend classes by wearing the dupatta, which is a part of the uniform prescribed by the college, in the form of a head scarf for now, as only two months are left for the end of the current academic year, during the pendency of the petitions.