Amid a row over wearing hijab in college, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday ordered the closure of schools and colleges in the state for the next three days. “We are awaiting directions from the Karnataka High Court. I appeal to students to maintain peace and harmony. I have directed school administrations to see there are no clashes between students. I appeal to all persons concerned from outside not to make provocative statements,” Karnataka Chief Minister told media persons in Delhi. Taking to Twitter, Bommai said, “I appeal to all the students, teachers and management of schools and colleges as well as people of Karnataka to maintain peace and harmony. I have ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for the next three days. Three-day holidays for high schools and colleges announced. All concerned are requested to cooperate.”
Protests have erupted at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi as students wearing hijab and another group of students wearing saffron stoles-headgears raise slogans on the college campus. Notably, Karnataka State Primary and High School Education Minister B.C. Nagesh recently said that the students wearing hijab in Kundapura were allowed to enter college premises as a “courtesy” while maintaining that complying with uniform code is a must. The Minister made it clear that the students will need to follow the rules. “Ours is not a Pakistani culture. It is Indian culture. These girls aren’t aware of the school norms and customs, and they will understand later,” Nagesh told media persons.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday appealed to the students’ community and the public at large to maintain peace while hearing various pleas challenging a ban on hijab in the state. The HC’s appeal came after the Advocate General apprised the court that there are some parallel agitations. Advocate General urged the High Court to issue an interim order that there should be no public protests or demonstrations. Appearing for petitioners, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, also apprised the Court about a video where a girl in hijab was being chased by boys. He also said that it agreed with Advocate General that law and order should be maintained and assured that as far as petitioners are concerned, they will not hold any protests on the streets. Advocate General said that since the court is already ceased the matter, the law should not be taken in hand by anyone.
The court said that it requests the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity. “This court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of public at large and it hopes that the same would be put to practice,” the Court said. Thereafter, the court posted the matter for further hearing for tomorrow.
During the course of the hearing, the petitioner advocate told the Court that wearing a headscarf is an essential part of Muslim culture. He also sought interim relief by allowing the students to attend classes for now considering that exams are approaching.
Senior Advocate Kamat, while advancing his arguments cited various judgments and also apprised the Court about some countries following the concept of “negative secularism” which does not permit the display of religious identity in public.
Kamat said, “India practice positive secularism, where every religion is being respected.” He also claimed that the government order is beyond the jurisdiction of the state. At the beginning of the hearing, the court said that it will go by reason, by law, not by passion or emotions.
The court was hearing various pleas challenging the Karnataka government order prohibiting hijab in education institutes. The Karnataka education department on Saturday issued a directive that all the government schools should follow the uniform dress code announced by the state government. “All government schools should follow the uniform dress code, declared by the state government. Students from private institutions should follow the dress decided by the school management,” Karnataka Education Department said.