Hijab row: Karnataka HC refers case to larger bench

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday transferred the petition challenging ban on hijab in college to a larger bench. A single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Dixit has referred the Karnataka hijab matter to a larger bench. The decision came after Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi, appearing for Karnataka, opposed the grant of interim relief to allow students to attend colleges wearing hijab. Opposing any relief he said: “An interim order at this stage will amount to allowing the petition."  Justice Dixit observes in the order that the question of interim relief will also be considered by the larger bench. Advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioners, argued: “The AG says we have not prescribed/proscribed any uniform. The next question is supposing that the government order is interpreted by the CDC as not prescribing then the question does not arise. But if it is considered so by College Development Committee (CDC) then the question arises.  The Karnataka High Court was hearing the matter on a batch of petitions challenging the Karnataka government order dated February 5, which prohibited any cloth other than the prescribed uniform, which disturbed peace, harmony and, law and order.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government on Wednesday banned gatherings, protests of any type within the area of a 200-metre radius from the gates of schools, PU colleges, degree colleges or other similar educational institutions in Bengaluru for two weeks. The restrictive order comes a day after protests over hijab row turned violent with incidents of stone-pelting forcing chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to order the closure of all educational institutions for three days. The order banning protest will be implemented with immediate effect but only to Bengaluru. All educational institutions in the state will remain closed for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as ordered. With Saturday, Sunday holidays, schools and colleges are to resume from Monday.