'Hijab Not Essential Religious Practice': Karnataka Govt Reiterates In High Court

The hearing on the hijab issue will be continued on Tuesday

Karnataka High Court | Getty

New Delhi: Karnataka High Court on Monday began hearing various petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutions in the state. The state government reiterated that the hijab is not an essential religious practice and should be kept outside educational institutions.

With this, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi concluded his argument for the state on Monday, the hearing on the hijab issue will be continued on Tuesday.

"Govt order gives complete autonomy to institutions to decide uniform. AG says that the preamble of the Karnataka Education Act is to foster a secular environment. He says the stand of State is that element of introducing religious aspects shouldn't be there in uniform," AG was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

#HijabRow | AG says Govt order gives complete autonomy to institutions to decide uniform. AG says that preamble of Karnataka Education Act is to foster a secular environment. He says the stand of State is that element of introducing religious aspects shouldn't be there in uniform

— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2022

Meanwhile, on Monday, the state government has extended Section 144 at the educational institutions in and around Bengaluru till March 8.

On Sunday, Leader of Opposition of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah stated that the hijab ban in the educational institutions of the state was 'intentional and deliberate' to prevent the Muslim girls from getting educated.

"Hijab ban in educational institutions in the month of January-February is deliberate and intentional. It's a conspiracy of the BJP to prevent Muslim girls from getting an education. It is at the instance of RSS that the development committee is prescribing the dress code under the chairmanship of Raghupati Bhatt. What is the harm to other students if somebody wears in hijab or turban to class? If students wear Cross, what is the harm to other students?" The Congress leader was quoted as saying by The NDTV.

On Friday before the court has adjourned the hearing, the state government reportedly told the HC that the hijab is not an essential religious practice and preventing it does not violate the fundamental rights and constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.