Karnataka High Court has referred the matter related to Karnataka Hijab row to a larger bench. The bench was hearing petitions filed by Muslim girls who were denied entry into classrooms for wearing hijab.
“I feel this matter requires consideration of larger bench. The wisdom emanating from neighbouring High Court judgments needs to be treated,” Justice Krishna S. Dixit said.
The petitioners include five girls studying in a Government Pre-University College in Udupi.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde sought the required relief and said, “They have only two months (of the academic year) left. Do not exclude them…we need to find a way that no girl child is deprived of education…Today what is absolutely important is that peace comes, Constitutional fraternity returns to the college. No heavens will fall for two months.”
“Even interim prayers merit consideration at the hands of larger bench that may be constituted by CJ in his discretion and therefore the arguments advanced on interim prayers are reproduced here,” Justice Dixit said.
The court has not granted any interim relief as it was opposed by Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi. He argued, “My submission is that my learned friend (Kamat) has completed his arguments. Now, it is for State to argue and then it is for the Court to adjudicate…I wanted to say the petitions are misconceived. They have questioned the GO. Each institution has been given autonomy. State does not take a decision.”
Interim order at this stage will be amounting to allowing the petition, he added.
Advocate Sajan Poovayya, representing the college development committee, also opposed an interim relief while submitting that referring the matter to a larger bench is not necessary. ‘
As the hijab row continues to grow in Karnataka, the situation is getting intensified in the state and also affecting other parts of the country. In view of the worsening situation, the Karnataka government has announced a three day holiday for all High Schools and colleges in the state.
