A student in Karnataka has filed a fresh plea in the Supreme Court challenging the interim order of the Karnataka high court in which students have been restrained from wearing religious dress in colleges, news agency ANI reported.
The petitioner sought a stay on the direction of the high court, which is hearing the hijab issue, as well as the proceedings going on before the three-judge bench.
The plea noted that the interim order has put the choice of conscience of individuals, particularly that of Muslim women students into question.
"It is hereby submitted that the right to wear a Hijab falls within the ambit of the right of expression guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a), the right to privacy and also the Freedom of Conscience under Article 25 of the Constitution. The same cannot be infringed upon without a valid "law," added the plea challenging the High Court order.
A full bench of the Karnataka high court on Thursday heard the hijab ban case and said it wants the matter to be resolved at the earliest but till the time the matter remains pending students are not allowed to wear religious clothing in schools and colleges to maintain peace and tranquillity.
As the Chief Justice delivered the interim order, the lawyer appearing for the Muslim students argued that this interim order will amount to the suspension of rights. "We are told to choose between food and water and both are essential," the lawyer said.
The Chief Justice said, "It is a matter of a few days. Please cooperate."
As lawyers argued that one cannot be asked to suspend their faith for a few days, the chief justice said, "We will restrain everyone from adopting religious practice while we are hearing."
Apart from the student's plea, a fresh appeal regarding the same row was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday by Youth Congress president BV Srinivas.
Earlier on Thursday, Kapil Sibal mentioned a plea on the hijab row before a bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana to which the Apex Court said it would consider a submission seeking the listing of a plea for transferring a case on the hijab' row from the Karnataka High Court to itself.