Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court was urged to direct the government to allow students wearing the hijab in classes as more students remained out in schools across the state, refusing to shun the head covering.
Teachers have also turned out students who came to attend classes with skull caps. Many students chose to be absent as hijab-wearing students were not allowed into schools.
A bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, and Justices Krishna S Dixit and Khaji Jaibunnesa Mohiyuddin adjourned the hearing of petitions after hearing arguments and counter-arguments for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Senior advocates Devdatt Kamat, Mohammad Tahir, and Ravi Varma Kumar presented their arguments in favor of girls demanding to wear hijab, while Advocate General Prabhuling Navadagi represented the government.
The petitioners submitted that since the colleges are going to start soon, the bench must pass an order allowing Muslim students to wear hijab while attending classes. They also quoted a judgment of the South African court, where a Tamil girl was not allowed to attend classes for wearing a nose ring. When it was questioned in the court, the student was allowed to attend classes, counsel submitted.
The petitioners also submitted that the Karnataka government is yet to make guidelines on uniforms, and without this, it is improper to make the uniform compulsory for students.
When one of the petitioners submitted that students with hijab are not allowed in Urdu schools in the state, the Advocate General objected to lacing arguments without submitting an application before the court.
The bench asked counsel to submit an application in this regard.
The petitioners also argued that the government does not have the supreme power of prohibition in the name of public order.
Meanwhile, 25 girl students of the Government School in Indavara of Chikkamaglur district boycotted exams as they were asked to take off their hijab. More than 20 students went back home without attending school for the same reason in Nelya village of Madikeri district.
The majority of students at Urdu Girls School in Kalaburagi chose to remain absent from classes as the hijab was not allowed. Similar incidents have been reported from Gadag, Hassan, Yadgir, and Shivamogga districts.
The hijab row which started last month in Udupi Pre-University College by six girl students has snowballed into a major crisis in the state and has been discussed at international levels too.
