Hijab Ban- Karnataka High Court Full Bench Hearing (Day 10)- LIVE UPDATES

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

24 Feb 2022 2:21 PM IST

  • Hijab Ban- Karnataka High Court Full Bench Hearing (Day 10)- LIVE UPDATES

    Karnataka High Court Full Bench will continue hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the hijab ban in educational institutions.The matter is before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi will hear the petitions today at 2.30 PM.On Monday, Chief Justice sought a clarification from the State regarding its stand on banning hijab....

    Karnataka High Court Full Bench will continue hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the hijab ban in educational institutions.

    The matter is before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi will hear the petitions today at 2.30 PM.

    On Monday, Chief Justice sought a clarification from the State regarding its stand on banning hijab. This arose in view of the AG's submission that the Government Order dated February 5, which has been challenged in the writ petitions, does not prescribe any ban on hijab and that it is only an "innocuous" order which asks students to follow the uniforms prescribed by their institutions.

    "What is your stand? Whether hijab can be permitted in institutions or not?", the Chief Justice raised a pointed query.

    "The operative portion of the GO leaves it to the institutions", the AG submitted.

    "If institutions permit hijab, you have objections?", the CJ asked further

    "If the institutions are to permit, we would possibly take a decision as and when the issue arises...", the AG responded.

    "You have to take a stand", the CJI reiterated.

    "My answer is that we have not prescribed anything. The Order , it gives complete autonomy to institution to decide uniform. Whether students be allowed to wear dress or apprarel which could be symbol of religion, the stand of the state is.. element of introducing religious dress should not be there in uniform. As a matter of principle, the answer is in preamble of Karnataka Education Act which is to foster secular environment", the AG replied.

    AG argued that petitioners have not shown that wearing hijab is an essential religious practice in Islam and thus, the protection under Article 25 of the Constitution is not available to them.

    Yesterday, the High Court clarified that the interim order passed by it on February 10, which prohibited wearing of religious dresses by students in classrooms, will apply to both degree colleges and Pre-University (PU) Colleges, where uniform has been prescribed.

    The Court also clarified that its order applies only to students and not teachers.

    FOLLOW THE LIVE UPDATES HERE

    Live Updates

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:13 PM IST

      CJ: Aggrieved persons are represented by very very competent lawyers, so if you want to add anything assist them.

      Singh: I want to argue on grounds of Equality, Article 14 and 15 and the burden of satisfying that the impugned order satisfy 19(2) is on the State.

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:12 PM IST

      CJ : We are not on your credentials, we appreciate your concerns. We are saying when aggrieved persons are there, your petition may not be maintainable. We are not satisfied with the maintainability of your petition. We will pass order.

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:12 PM IST

      Singh : There are members who are deeply affected by the GO. For example petitioner no.2 is the mother of school-going children. I can only say that we are genuine parties, we have filed several petitions, at all levels, lower courts, HC and SC.

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:11 PM IST

      Chief Justice: In this manner we cannot allow you to espouse to cause of persons who are already before the court. GO is restricted to students and those aggrieved students are before the court, it is not for everyone to come before the court.

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:10 PM IST

      Singh: There are different women are not before the court, and we want to give a complete pictures, with different grounds not raised.

      CJ : Go an assist the petitioners who have come before the court

      Singh : We have filed petitions in SC and HC 

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:09 PM IST

      Adv Chatterjee: I will ensure that everything required is placed on record. My request is if my learned senior could address the court.

      CJ : Okay. How are you aggreived? Aggrieved persons are before the Court. What is the need for you to espouse the cause?

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:08 PM IST

      Advocate on Record Aditya Chatterjee points out that the resolution is in the letter head of the organisation and the official seal is there.

      CJ : Disclose the constitution of the body taking the decision to file the petition and where is the decision of the committee?

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:04 PM IST

      Advocate on Record refers to the pages having resolution.

      CJ: The resolution is signed by one Devi. What is the constitution of the committee, which has met and taken the decision?

      Singh : It was the Central Committee.

      CJ : It does not talk about it. No details

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:04 PM IST

      Singh : We are not a registered body. We are a mass organisation of women which has fought many cases. In Karnataka chapter itself nearly one lakh women are there

      CJ: Is there any authorisation in favour of vice president Sri Vimla KS who represents petitioner no 1?

    • 24 Feb 2022 3:03 PM IST

      Sr Adv Kirti Singh makes submissions for All India Democratic Women's Association.

      AG : The petitioner does not disclose under which Act they are registered.

      CJ : Are you a registered body?

    Next Story