Hijab row: Three-judge bench of Karnataka HC to hear petition today; Basavaraj Bommai urges everyone to maintain peace

Bengaluru: All eyes are set on the three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court, which will hear on Thursday afternoon the petitions questioning the ban on wearing of ‘hijabs’ (headscarves) by students in colleges. Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi on Wednesday had constituted a full bench comprising himself, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M Khazi in view of the urgency to hear the matter. Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Dixit, who was hearing the case, referred the matter to Justice Awasthi’s consideration with a view that a larger bench may look into the case. Karnataka primary and secondary education minister B C Nagesh on Thursday expressed his satisfaction over the formation of a full bench to hear the case. “The satisfying thing is that a full bench has been constituted immediately, which will start hearing from today. We expect a good judgment, which will put an end to this problem,” the minister told reporters.

Nagesh added that he along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan have been regularly holding meetings ever since the hijab row erupted.

The hijab row started in December end last year when a few students started coming to the government pre-university college in Udupi wearing hijab. To protest against it, some Hindu students started coming to the college wearing saffron scarves. The row spread to other educational institutions in different parts of the state, and the protests took a violent turn at some places. The state government had on Tuesday ordered closure of all high schools and colleges in Karnataka for three days due to rising tensions over the issue.

Please read: How Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, famous for anti-CAA protest, is backing Karnataka’s hijab stir

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged upon everyone including politicians, not to make statements that incite people and to maintain peace. The government also indicated that educational institutions were not meant for religious practices and wanted the students to follow the uniform dress code. “The issue on uniform dress code at educational institutions has been transferred to the three judge bench of the High Court and the hearing will begin at about 2:30 pm today. Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges to avoid any disturbance between students. It is the duty of every one to see to it that there is no incitement by outsiders and to maintain law and order,” Bommai said. Speaking to reporters, he said everyone should wait for the court verdict as it is seized of the matter and in a democracy everyone should respect it. “I appeal to everyone, whoever had to make their statement or remarks on the issue have already made it. Now, everyone should stop and wait for the court verdict. No one should make any statement that disturbs peace and should restrain themselves,” he added. To a question on Congress’ allegation that a minister’s son distributed saffron shawls to students, Bommai said, “There have been allegations and counter-allegations from both sides, I don’t want to comment on it. In fact, I’m calling on to stop such things, no one will benefit from it. People holding responsible positions should be sensible and sensitive on the issue involving students.”

Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh also appealed to students to return to schools and colleges with uniform as exams were nearing, as he indicated that such institutions were not meant for religious practices.

“I request the students to follow the uniform, come to schools and let the schools-colleges function as usual. The SSLC and the PU exams will start in March and April and you need to focus on your studies,” he told reporters.

“We don’t want differences emerge among the young minds amongst each other. If students start thinking that this person is a Muslim and that person is a Hindu, will it be possible to attend classes and take lessons?” Nagesh sought to know.

According to him, many people have got involved in an emotional issue like hijab. Further, some miscreants took the problem faced by six students (who insisted on wearing hijabs in class-rooms) in the coastal Udupi district statewide, he charged.

To a query that some people have come forward to give cash reward to the burqa-clad girl who screamed ‘Alla hu Akbar’ in Mandya on her entry to the school when she was heckled by some boys two days ago, Nagesh said it will be investigated.

“The Supreme Court lawyers who will fight for hijab saying that it is their religious belief, where they belong to and whose legal experts they are and which politician’s house they will discuss, will be known in the coming days,” the minister said.

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