Single Bench of Karnataka High Court has referred the hijab ban issue to a larger bench. The Bench refuses to pass interim orders permitting girls to attend colleges wearing the hijab and says that interim relief is to be considered by the larger bench.
The Karnataka High Court was hearing petitions filed by five women from a government college in Udupi.
The Karnataka court said there is nothing in the Karnataka Education Act which deals with uniform. There is a residual rule making power but rule making power cannot go beyond Act. Even if assuming the State has power, can it be exercised this way? The answer, Justice Hegde, said, was, “No”.
“Ultimately what is relevant for us is whether children go to school or not,” Justice Hegde said.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh claimed that according to a report the Campus Front of India (CFI) is said to have incited the Hijab row, and would be investigated. CFI is the student wing of the Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).
