Matter of choice. The counsel appearing for students seeking to attend schools with hijab has urged the Karnataka High Court that students be allowed to wear hijab and attend classes on Fridays at least even as the Karnataka issued an order stating no hijab to be allowed in minority institutions.
Senior advocate Vinod Kulakarni, appearing for the students, submitted that the hijab issue has created mass hysteria and mental disturbances throughout the country, and that sending poor Muslim girls out of class is against the preamble of the Constitution.
At least on Fridays, and ensuing holy month of Ramzan, beginning in March), let the students be allowed to come wearing hijab, he said, quoting a Lata Mangeshkar song, “.. Kuch paake khona hai, kuch khoke paana hai’ (to get something you lose, you lose something to get something) and sought court directions in this regard.
“I beg with my folded hands to allow hijab on Fridays and it will avoid unnecessary controversy,” he said, adding that the Quran can’t be ignored and hijab is not against public order. Outside authorities have no standing and have no authority to pass orders in religious matters and beliefs, he said.
Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi, appearing for the state government, opposed the demand, saying that if the request is considered, it is as good as considering the petitioner’s application.
Senior advocates Devdatt Kamat, Ravivarma Kumar and Yusuf Muchchala, appearing for the petitioners, have completed their arguments on Wednesday.
The three judge bench, which heard the matter for the fifth consecutive day, subsequently adjourned the matter to Friday, when Navadagi will present his arguments.
Counsel for petitioner have so far vehemently argued for lifting of interim order prohibiting wearing of hijab and saffron shawls to classes, contending that the government is misusing the interim order issued by the court to target Muslim students.
However, the bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and comprising Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin has not acceded to this.
Meanwhile, the six girls from Udupi who started the hijab protest have chosen to remain absent from the college until the final order.
Meanwhile, police had a tough time as about 340 students resorted to block the road holding placards in support of wearing hijab in Hassan. A police officer warned them of action and dispersed them.
A tense situation is prevailing at Saraladevi College in Bellary as hijab wearing students joined by parents refusing to go back even after several requests from college and police authorities.
Meanwhile, in further hardening of the stand, the Karnataka government issued a circular which says that wearing of hijab is not permitted in minority institutions run under the state government.
Secretary for Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf Department Major P. Manivannan stated that, the interim order of the full bench of the High Court also applies to residential schools run under the Minority Welfare Department and Moulana Azad Model Schools (English medium).
All educational institutions run by the Minority Welfare Department have been ordered not to allow hijab, scarves, saffron shawls and other religious symbols in the classrooms.
The circular quoted the order, “we request the state government and all their stakeholders to reopen the educational institutions and allow the students to return to the classes at the earliest. Pending consideration of all these petitions, we restrain all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa), scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders.”
“We make it very clear that this order is confined to such institutions wherein the college Development Committees have prescribed the student dress/uniform.” The circular mentions that it is issued after it has come to the notice that women students are attending classes in hijab.
Students wearing hijab have already started questioning the authorities and staging protests as well as submitting memorandums to the concerned Deputy Commissioners across the state.
Tense situation continued in and around Karnataka colleges on Thursday as the pre-university students wearing hijab demanded to be let inside classrooms. The hijab-clad students were sent back and many protested the decision of college authorities.
Six persons, who came in support of the hijab wearing students near the Vijay Para-Medical College, were taken into custody in Belagavi. The individuals who gathered in front of the college raised ‘Allah hu Akbar’ slogans and demanded that hijab wearing students must be allowed inside the classrooms. They were taken into custody after they indulged in heated arguments with the police.
State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra met Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his residence and discussed the situation in the state. Meanwhile, Muskaan Khan, the student who made international news by raising ‘Allah hu Akbar’ slogans against saffron wearing protesting students, remained absent from PES College in Mandya.
Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar of Ramnagar district issued prohibitory orders and cancelled physical classes in the district. The First Grade PUC college administration has been asked to take online classes till February 19. More than 20 students of Government Women’s PU College in Vijayapura wearing hijab refused to take up exams. The local police clamped prohibitory orders on 200 meters radius of the college and tight security has been arranged.
Prohibitory orders have also been clamped in Hubballi till February 28 to not allow any protests. Meanwhile, a one-day holiday has been announced for Hubballi Arts and Commerce College to avoid any untoward incidents due to the hijab row.
Tension prevailed at Shivamogga DVS College when more than 20 hijab wearing students tried to get inside the college. Police and college authorities sent them back. AAPUC Chemistry Practical exams scheduled to be held on Thursday were postponed in Udupi MGM College.
Students at Sarala Devi College in Bellary questioned how can Hindu students be allowed inside the campus while wearing bindi, bangles and they also be sent out. The students got into an argument with the police for preventing them from entering the premises of the college.
Students wearing hijab were sent back from Belagavi RLS College, Koppal colleges, Ballary Veerashaiva Mahila colleges. (IANS)