Karnataka High Court to resume hearing on petitions on hijab ban on Monday
Bangalore:
Class 11 and 12 schools and colleges in Karnataka will remain closed from Saturday to Wednesday amid a row over Muslim students wearing hijab on campus. The Karnataka government today announced that classes will remain closed as the High Court continues to hear petitions challenging the hijab ban on Monday.
However, schools are open for students up to class 10.
The protest, which began last week against the ban on hijab at a government college in Udupi, spread to several other institutions where hijab-wearing girls were not allowed entry. Violence at a college prompted police to use tear gas to douse the fire as students wearing saffron dupatta launched a counter-protest.
The Supreme Court today dismissed an urgent hearing on the hijab controversy, saying it would “intervene at an appropriate time.” A girl in Karnataka had approached the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
The student, in her appeal in the Supreme Court, said that the practical examination would begin from February 15 and “any interference with the access of students to educational institutions would hinder their education”.
As tension escalated, security forces also made rounds in three cities of Karnataka. Police conducted flag marches in Udupi, Chitradurga and Doddaballapura.
Flag march to maintain law and order: Karnataka High Court said it will resume hearing on petitions challenging hijab restrictions on Monday. The High Court in its interim order today said that no religious dress, be it shawls or hijab, will be allowed inside educational institutions.
Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai has appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.
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