Bengaluru: Karnataka government on Thursday said High Court's order upholding the ban on hijab in educational institutions in the state will continue pending a final decision in the Supreme Court, which today pronounced a split verdict. The apex court gave the verdict on the appeals challenging the restriction on girls and women wearing the headscarves in schools and colleges.
State Education Minister BC Nagesh said that the ban on wearing hijab in educational institutions in the state will remain for now. Shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its split verdict, the minister said "we expect a better judgement" stating that women worldwide are demanding to not wear hijab and burqa.
We welcome SC verdict. We had expected a better judgement as women worldwide are demanding to not wear hijab/burqa. Karnataka HC order remains applicable in interim time; ban on wearing of hijab in educational institutions of the state remains: Karnataka min @BCNagesh_bjp pic.twitter.com/bIQZLAV7Vm
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) October 13, 2022
"As a democratic government, we welcome whatever order we have received from the honourable Supreme Court. But we expected a better judgment because as you know - throughout the world - women are demanding not to wear hijab and burka," Minister said addressing a press conference today.
"We welcome the Supreme Court verdict. Karnataka HC order remains applicable in the interim time. The ban on wearing of hijab in educational institutions of the state remains,” Nagesh said.
When asked about organisations supporting the wearing of the hijab in educational institutions, the Karnataka minister said: "They will always want to split this society. They are using hijab to split the society."
The Supreme Court two-judge bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia pronounced the judgement today.
They will always want to split this society. They are using hijab to split the society: Karnataka minister BC Nagesh on being asked about organisations supporting wearing hijab in educational institutions@BCNagesh_bjp pic.twitter.com/Vrslu5m2jl
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) October 13, 2022
While Justice Hemant Gupta stated that was a "divergence of opinion" as he dismissed the bunch of petitions against the March 15 Karnataka High Court order on the hijab matter, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia allowed the appeals and set aside the HC verdict.
"It's a matter of choice, nothing more nothing less," Justice Dhulia said while pronouncing the order.
Justice Gupta said, "There is a divergence of opinion. In my order, I have framed 11 questions. First is whether the appeal should be referred to the Constitution Bench." (with ANI inputs)
