Hijab not essential part of Islam, Karnataka tells HC

New Delhi, February 18

The Karnataka Government on Friday asserted before the Karnataka High Court that hijab was not an essential religious practice of Islam and the ban on wearing it in educational institutions didn’t violate the right to religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.

“We have taken a stand that wearing hijab is not an essential religious part of Islam,” Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi told a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice RR Awasthi. Navadgi said the practice of wearing hijab should also pass the test of constitutional morality as interpreted by the Supreme Court in various judgments, including the Sabarimala Temple women’s entry case. The hearing would resume on Monday.

Several Muslim girls have challenged the Karnataka Government’s February 5 order restricting students from wearing clothes that could disturb peace, harmony and law and order.

The Karnataka High Court had on February 10 restrained students from going to educational institutions wearing religious dress. Earlier, the SC had refused to intervene in the controversy.