The Supreme Court will remain closed for the Holi vacation for three days from Thursday.
New Delhi: A day after the Karnataka High Court said that wearing of the hijab by Muslim women does not make up an essential religious practice in Islamic faith, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing against the High Court order on Wednesday but the apex court said the matter will be listed only after the Holi break.
Chief Justice N V Ramana reportedly told Hegde, “Others also mentioned. Let us see. We will list after vacation.” When Hegde asked if the court will list the matter on Monday, March 21, as the exams will begin and the students will have to appear for it, the CJI reiterated, “Mr Hegde, give us time. We will see. We will post the matter.”
The Supreme Court will remain closed for the Holi vacation for three days from Thursday.
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday had dismissed all pleas filed by Muslim girls of pre university colleges in Udupi. The controversy surrounding the hijab row led to several protests, ranging from Muslim students sitting outside classrooms for not being allowed to wear hijabs to Hindu students, backed by Right-wing outfits, barging inside classrooms chanting religious slogans.
Karnataka Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, while reading out a portion of the order on Tuesday said, “We are of the considered opinion that wearing of the hijab by Muslim women does not make up an essential religious practice in Islamic faith.”
The bench, which also comprised Justices Krishna S Dixit and J M Khazi, said, “We are of the considered opinion that the prescription of a school uniform is a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to.”
The court also observed that it feels that there can be the role of “hidden hands” as alleged in stoking the controversy that led to widespread protests.
