Hijab Row: We Will Go By Reason And Not By Emotions, Says Karnataka High Court

Earlier, five girls students of the Government Pre-University College in Udipi, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, questioning the curbs on wearing hijab in college

New Delhi: After a month-long fight between hijab-clad students and a few government colleges that barred the students, who wore headgear, from attending the classes, the matter is finally heard in the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday. 

Earlier, five girls students of the Government Pre-University College in Udipi, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, questioning the curbs on wearing hijab in college. 

After taking up the case on Tuesday before pronouncing the final hearing, bench head Justice Krishna Dixit said, "We will go by reason, by law, not by passion or emotions. We will go by what Constitution says. Constitution is the Bhagavad Gita for me. I have taken the oath to abide by Constitution. Let's keep the emotions aside," as quoted by Livelaw.

"Wearing of a headscarf is an essential part of Muslim culture," said senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, who appeared for the petitioners. 

While the matter is in court, there has reportedly been a standoff between hijab-clad students and saffron shawl-wearing students in Shivamogga district. While the girls wearing hijab are seeking permission to enter the colleges wearing their headgear, several students at Government PU College in Shivamogga have been demanding that girls wearing hijab shouldn't be allowed in the colleges.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged all the concerned people to keep peace and let the children study.

Earlier on Tuesday, protests 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, reports ANI news agency.

The issue caused a stir in January when six girls, who wore the hijab, were barred from entry into Government PU College in Udipi and later the dispute spread to other colleges in the Udipi district. Now, the issue is being spread to other districts. The ruling BJP in Karnataka has taken a clear stand by issuing an order that imposes a ban on wearing clothes that disturbs integrity, equality and public order.