Hijab Row Highlights: A college development committee does not have any statutory basis, the Counsel argued in todays hearing

As schools and colleges across Karnataka reopen today, the government hopes that peace will prevail. Meanwhile CM Yogi chimed in on the hijab debate saying "we can't impose our personal religious beliefs and choices on the country". The Karnataka High Court heard crucial pleas on the row today. The hearing will resume again on February, 15 at 2:30 pm.

Hijab row: Students seek Karnataka HC's nod to use uniform stole to cover their head

An Interlocutory Application (IA) was mentioned before the full bench of the Karnataka High Court on Monday during the hearing on a batch of petitions over the Hijab controversy, requesting the leave of the court to use a uniform stole to cover the head.

PU, degree colleges in Karnataka to reopen on Feb 16

Karnataka decided to reopen pre-university and degree colleges from February 16 (Wednesday).

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Karnataka Congress MLAs wear black band during Governor's address in protest against hijab row, Narayana Guru tableau issue

HC to resume hearing on 15 February, 2:30 pm

State cannot say that wearing hijab will incite passions and thus restrict the practice, argues Counsel

Whether the right to religion offends public order is to be decided by the State not college committee, says Counsel

I daresay that the person who has drafted the GO has not looked at Article 25, says Counsel

Since the Quran makes the Hijab 'essential', we need not go to any other authority and this will be protected under Article 25: Counsel

Counsel refers to the quote "Islam cannot be Anti-Quran" in triple talaq case

What is bad in Quran cannot be good in Shariyat - this is how Supreme Court summed it up in triple talaq case: Counsel Kamat

"If Islamic scriptures of Holy Quran says this practise (wearing Hijab) is obligatory then courts have to permit it. In Shayra Bano case, the Supreme Court held triple talaq practice was not sanctioned by Quran", argues Counsel

The question is not whether a particular religious belief appeals to our reason or sentiment, but whether the belief is genuinely and conscientiously held as part of the profession or practice of religion: Counsel quotes from Bijoe Emmanuel.

Articles 25 (1) and 25(2) have to be read together: CJ

"Read Bijoe Emmanuel, it does not distinguish between Article 25 (1) and 25 (2). Read para 19", says CJ.

A college development committee does not have any statutory basis and it does not pass the muster to regulate public order, says Counsel

It is not passed under any statute, but some executive order and it does not pass the muster to regulate public order: Counsel

On wearing hijabs and saffron shawls, the Counsel argues the the former has been worn for years unlike the latter which was done in a recent attempt to assert right of religious expression

Counsel says that the Madras HC judgment mentioned in the GO was with respect to Govt's power to prescribe uniform for contractual teachers and there was no discussion of Article 25 in that case

By referring to these judgments, GO commits a "fatal error", argues Counsel

Both judgements that GO cites do not apply in our case, argues Counsel

One is in a minority institution the other is in an all-girls school. Third judgement is of Madras HC judgement, this has nothing to do with Article 25: Kamat

Counsel tries to distinguish Bombay HC judgment mentioned in the GO

The girl was studying in an all-girls school and hence the Court held hijab was not necessary, he says

Counsel refers to Madras HC judgment in M Ajmal Khan vs Election Commission case: Purdah not essential, headscarf is

"Students have been wearing hijabof same colour as uniform", says Counsel.

"Kendriya Vidyalayas even today permit by a notification female muslim students to wear headscarf of same colour as uniform".

"If a believer thinks a practice is essential to his faith and that practice is innocuous and does not infringe on anyone's freedom, then in that context, the test of essential religious practice will not arise", says Counsel

Hijabs are in line with Article 25, Sikhs too have allowance to wear headgear, argues Counsel

Purdah not essential but headscarf is, argues Counsel referring to Madras HC judgement

Students are not rejecting the uniform, they are simply asking to cover their head, argues Counsel

Sharia mandates women to wear headscarf and any prescription otherwise is repugnant to protection of essential religious rights, Counsel argues

Counsel for petitioner reads out Article 25

The GO relies on certain High Court rulings. It is their (State's) understanding that it is not a violation: CJ Awasthi

It is the wrong understanding and I am challenging it: Counsel for petitioner

It is State's duty to ensure people can exercise their fundamental rights, says Counsel for petition

If certain sections of the society don't want fundamental rights of other secions to play out, that is no ground to restrict fundamental rights of that section: Counsel Kamat

We are trying to understand whether by this GO, the State has restricted Article 25 or not, says CJ Awasthi

HC hears arguments on whether wearing of headscarf under Article 25 is absolute or relative

"Article 25 is not subject to general reasonable restrictions like in Article 19. The restrictions which can be imposed is mentioned in Article 25 itself - public order, morality, health.", says Counsel for petitioner.

The Government Order (GO) is in the teeth of Article 25 and reflects total non-application of mind: Counsel Kamat commences arguments for petitioner

Reading out the order, Kamat says,"1. Wearing of hijab not protected by Article 25; 2. They are leaving it to College Development Committee to decide whether any exception should be made for hijab."

"As per GO, it is some committee with MLA which will decide whether to exercise fundamental right. This is totally impermissible", he adds.

Counsel Subhash Jha requests parties to 'restrict their submission to what is in the rule book and not give communal colour'

Hearing on crucial pleas commences at the Karnataka HC

CJ Ritu Raj Awasthi says, 'our sincere request to media is to be more responsible. We are not against media, our only request is be responsible".

Hijab row: Bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi to hear petitions

3 Muslim girls boycott exam in Shivamogga after being asked being asked to remove their hijab

Even as the majority of Muslim students inKarnatakaon Monday attended classes without wearing hijab as per the High Court's interim order, 13 students from the Government High School in Shivamogga district refused to take the SSLC (Class 10) preparatory examination after being asked to remove hijab.

The students of Government Public School of Shivamogga district were stopped by teachers and asked to remove their hijab. The students, however, outrightly refused to shun hijab and demanded that they be allowed to write exams.

The teachers and school management tried to convince them by asking them to write exams in a separate room without a hijab. However, the students rejected the offer and decided to boycott the examination. Parents of the girls, who reached school there, also supported their children and took them home saying that without hijab they can't attend classes.

Hijab row: High schools reopen in Karnataka

High schools in Karnataka reopened on Monday after being shut from last Wednesday following untoward incidents in parts of the State over the hijab row.

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Students with hijab denied entry into Mandya school

An argument broke out between parents and teachers of Rotary School in Mandya over students entering the school wearing hijab

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Karnataka schools till class 10 reopen today for physical classes

Classes commence in Davengere under police security

The classes for 9th and 10th grade commenced in the district under police security on Monday after a gap of five days.
In order to prevent untoward incidents after the hijab vs saffron stole protests turned violent in some parts of the district, prohibitory orders have been enforced in the district till 6:00 am on Tuesday.

The hijab row is expected to dominate the 10-day Legislature session, which will begin with the joint address by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday.

This is the second consecutive session since Basavaraj Bommai took charge as chief minister where issues pertaining to religious rights are expected to hog the limelight

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Today's DH Speak Out|

Hijab row: Dakshina Kannada DC imposes Section 144 near educational institutions

As a precautionary measure to maintain peace and law and order in the Dakshina Kannada district, Deputy Commissioner Rajendra K V has imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code within 200 meter radius of schools and colleges in the district from February 14, 6 am to February 19, 6 pm.

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Wearing hijab will protect Muslim women from getting raped: Karnataka Congress MLA

'Nation run by Constitution, not Sharia': Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the "nation would be run by the Constitution (of India) and not by the Sharia."

Yogi Adityanath, during his election meetings on Sunday evening, warned religious fanatics 'dreaming about Ghazwa-e-Hind' (Islamic conquest of India) and said that "those with a Talibani mindset should give up their dream. India will be run by the constitution. And every institution has the right to formulate its own dress code."

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The system should run as per the Constitution. We can't impose our personal religious beliefs & choices on the country & its institutions. Can I ask all employees in UP to wear 'bhagwa'? Dress code must be enforced in schools: UP CM Yogi

For those dreaming of Ghazwa-e-Hind,this is New India under leadership of PM Modi. New India is for development of all, but appeasement of none. It'll run as per Constitution not Shariat. Ghazwa-e-Hind' ka sapna Qayamat ke din tak sakar nahi hoga: UP CM

"For those dreaming of Ghazwa-e-Hind,this is New India under leadership of PM Modi. New India is for development of all, but appeasement of none. It'll run as per Constitution not Shariat. Ghazwa-e-Hind' ka sapna Qayamat ke din tak sakar nahi hoga,"says UP CM

Making uniform compulsory being portrayed as oppression of Muslims: Karnataka Minister

B.C. Nagesh, who was recently named Karnataka's minister for education, is in the thick of things surrounding the hijab row. He has been strongly propagating the idea of uniform minus hijab. In an interaction with IANS, the minister explained his perspectives on the raging controversy.

Q. The developments surrounding the hijab row have deeply hurt student mindset. How are you going to address the issue?

A: It will take many days to bring mindsets back on the right track. The students who remained friends till yesterday have developed the psyche that one is a Muslim and another is a Hindu. This is not good. If the norm of Uniform is practiced without any hindrances of religious practices it is possible to heal these divided mindsets. They will continue to have bitter memories but somehow they will come to the right track after sometime. But, it is a difficult process and it takes time.

What does it mean when a girl from Mandya can raise the slogan of Allah Hu Akbar? Where the mindsets have reached? I am not talking about what is right and what is wrong here. Everyone will have their emotions and they react to certain things. But, the reactive mindset has been developed already. How tenable is it for such developments to take place in college campuses?

BJP 'jittery'; raking up Hijab row, UCC shows hold over electorate slipping: Salman Khurshid

Accusing the BJP of polarisation during assembly polls by raking up issues such as the hijab row and the Uniform Civil Code, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday said it showed that the BJP was "jittery" as its hold over the electorate was slipping, and asserted that the people were beginning to see "through their tricks".

He also termed the dubbing of the elections in Uttar Pradesh as a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party by some quarters as an "exaggeration" and said "this will not be the end of the story of the Congress party's revival, this will be the beginning of that story".

Meet on hijab row held in Udupi district, CFI skips

A meeting of various organisations was held at Udupi on Sunday to discuss ways to maintain peace in the district in the wake of the hijab-saffron shawl row. Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, who chaired the meeting, told reporters that the organisations that took part in the meeting responded positively to the view that untoward incidents should be avoided over the issue and everyone should wait till the High Court gave a final verdict.

A girl in hijab will be country’s PM one day: Owaisi

A girl wearing Hijab will become the prime minister of the country one day, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said amid the controversy over Muslim women's headscarves. "If a girl decides to wear Hijab and asks her parents to do so and when her parents allow her to wear it, who can stop her from wearing it? We shall see, Inshallah," Owaisi is heard saying in a 43-second video of his address in an election rally.

“The girls will wear hijab, will wear Niqab and go to colleges and become doctors, collectors, SDMs and businessmen," Owaisi said in the video, shared on his Twitter handle. "You all keep in mind, perhaps when I am not alive, a girl wearing a hijab will become the prime minister of this country one day,” he added.

Hijab Row | CM Yogi tells news agency ANI, "Can't impose personal choice on the country"

Hijab row now erupts in Madhya Pradesh's Satna

As per official information, the fresh controversy over wearing hijab-burqa erupted at an Autonomous PG College in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district on Saturday after an M.Com student Rukshana Khan arrived at the college wearing hijab to appear in the exam.

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Wearing hijab will protect Muslim women from getting raped: Karnataka Congress MLA

Congress leader and MLA Zameer Ahmed courted controversy here on Sunday by reportedly stating that rape incidents in India are high because of the non-wearing of hijab. Hijab protects women from such heinous crimes, he said.

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Create conducive learning environment in schools, Bommai tells officials

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that high schoolswill reopen from Monday and thatpriority would be accorded to create a conducive atmosphere for learning.

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