Supreme Court to consider a three-judge panel to address the Karnataka Hijab ban row

The Supreme Court of India has been approached by a group of girls from Karnataka on Monday requesting a directive to allow them to sit for examinations wearing hijab.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandarchud, Justices V Ramasubramanian and JB Pardiwala, took note of senior attorney Meenakshi Arora’s arguments that an interim injunction was required in light of the practical exams that were due to begin for several schools in the state on February 6.

“This is the headscarf matter. The girls have practical examinations from February 6, 2023 and this matter needs to be listed for interim directions so that they can appear. The practical examinations will be held in government schools,” the senior lawyer said, appearing for some students.

“I will examine it. This is a three-judge bench matter. We will allot a date,” the CJI said.

A two-judge panel of the Supreme Court issued conflicting rulings in the hijab dispute and ordered the Chief Justice to appoint the proper panel to hear the matter on October 13, 2017, which was brought about by the state of Karnataka’s prohibition on the wearing of Islamic head coverings in schools.

There would be no restrictions on the wearing of the hijab anywhere in the state’s schools and colleges, according to Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, who replaced Justice Hemant Gupta, who had dismissed petitions against the Karnataka High Court’s March 15 decision refusing to overturn the prohibition.

The Karnataka government responded to the petitioners by arguing throughout the proceedings that its circular enforcing uniform was religion-neutral and solely intended to promote uniformity and discipline in the state’s educational institutions.