The Karnataka Government, while justifying its decision to prescribe a dress code in the educational institutes, apprised the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had prescribed uniforms which were religion-neutral.
Representing Karnataka state, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj said on Wednesday that the state has not banned Hijab but has only prescribed a uniform which is religion-neutral. ASG Nataraj submitted that the state government had neither prohibited nor promoted any religious activity. He was arguing before a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
ASG KM Nataraj said all religious rights must be balanced and no one can say that they have an absolute right. Countering the submission of the petitioner, ASG Nataraj said that the matter did not require to be referred to a larger bench as it was a simple case connected with the issue of discipline in educational institutions.
He also said that no person has been discriminated against and all have been treated equally.
Defending the state government’s decision, Karnataka’s Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi submitted before SC the restrictions of Hijab are inside the classroom. Karnataka’s Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi emphasised that there is no restriction on wearing hijab in school transport or even in the school campus.
The Karnataka Advocate General said that ground reality was something which has never happened in Karnataka.