The High Court of Karnataka will hear on February 8 the petitions filed by five Muslim girls studying in a Government Pre-university College for Girls, Udupi, seeking a declaration from the court that they have a ‘fundamental right to practice essential religious practices, including wearing of Hijab (head scarf) as per Islamic faith, on college premises.’
Justice Krishna S. Dixit, before whom the petitions filed by Ayesha Hajeera Almas and others came up for hearing, has adjourned further hearing till February 8 as the Advocate-General sought time to respond to the issues raised in the petitions. The petitioner-girls, in one of the petitions, have said that they were being discriminated by the teaching staff of the college since September last year citing uniform dress code and later they were not allowed to attend classes as they were wearing Hijabs.
