Breaking: All India Muslim Personal Law Board Moves Supreme Court Against Karnataka HC's Hijab Verdict

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court's judgment which upheld the ban on hijab in classrooms after holding that the wearing of headscarves by Muslim women was not an essential religious practice of Islam.

The Board has moved to the Supreme Court through its Secretary, Mohammed Fazlurrahim along with two other petitioners namely, Munisa Bushra and Jaleesa Sultana Yaseen.

In related news, an Islamic clerics organization "Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama" has also filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court's judgment which upheld the ban on hijab in classrooms after holding that the wearing of headscarves by Muslim women was not an essential religious practice of Islam.

The organization contends that the High Court's judgment is based on an erroneous interpretation of the Holy Quran and the Hadis and a wrong understanding of Islamic law.

Read more about the petition here: 'Hijab Verdict Based On Wrong Interpretation Of Quran': Islamic Clerics Body Moves Supreme Court Against Karnataka HC Judgment

Last week, the Chief Justice of India had declined a request for urgent listing of the pleas challenging the hijab case verdict. "Exams have nothing to do with this issue", CJI Ramana had told Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamat, who had made the mentioning on behalf of a Muslim student for urgent listing by saying that exams are starting from March 28.

Read more about it here: CJI Refuses To Give Urgent Listing For Pleas Against Hijab Ban In Classrooms; Says 'Exams Have Nothing To Do With This Issue

In its Judgment, the Karnataka High Court had held on March 15 that wearing of hijab is not a part of Essential Religious Practice in Islamic faith and thus, it is not protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, the Karnataka High Court has held today.

A Full Bench of the High Court further held that prescription of school uniform by the State is a reasonable restriction the students' rights under Article 25 and thus, the Government Order issued by the Karnataka government dated February 5 is not violative of their rights.

Accordingly, the Court had dismissed the petitions filed by Muslim girl students, challenging the action of a government PU colleges in denying their entry for wearing a hijab (headscarf).

Read more about the Karnataka High Court's verdict here: 'Hijab Not Essential Religious Practice In Islam': Karnataka High Court Dismisses Muslim Girls' Petitions Against Hijab Ban In Classrooms