Hijab Ban - 'We Also Know What Is Happening In The State, We Will Hear At Appropriate Time' : CJI On Plea For Urgent Hearing

Responding to a request seeking urgent listing of petitions challenging the Hijab ban in Karnataka colleges, the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Friday said that the Supreme Court will see the issue at the "appropriate time" as the Karnataka High Court is seized of the matter.

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat mentioned the special leave petition filed against the move of the Karnataka High Court to pass an interim order to the effect that students should not insist on wearing religious clothes in colleges while the case is pending before the Court. The formal order is yet to be uploaded by the High Court and the special leave petition has been filed on the basis of oral observations made by the bench while adjourning the hearing to February 14.

"HC says that none of the students should raise religious identity while going to school & colleges. It has far-reaching consequences for other faiths too and not only Muslims. For example the Sikhs wear Turbans. This in effect is complete suspension", Kamat submitted.

"Already the court is hearing. We don't know what the order is", CJI Ramana responded.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta pointed out that the order has not yet come out.

"I don't want to express anything. Don't take it on a larger level. We also know what's happening in the state & hearing & you also have to think over whether it's proper to bring it to Delhi. Definitely we'll examine & we'll have to protect constitutional rights. Mr Kamat, don't go into merits. Let us see appropriate time, we'll hear", CJI said.