New Delhi: The Karnataka High Court's decision to uphold the ban on the hijab in state-run educational institutions was challenged in a number of petitions, on which the Supreme Court on Thursday heard the concluding arguments.
Senior Advocate Dushayant Dave, representing Muslim appellants in the Supreme Court, said, "For those who are believers, it (hijab) is essential. For those who are not believers it's not essential."
On March 15, the high court denied petitions from a group of Muslim students at the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi who had asked for permission to wear the hijab in class. The court reasoned that the hijab is not a necessary component of the Islamic faith's religious practices.
The state government had, by its order of February 5, 2022, banned wearing clothes that contradict equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges.
Several pleas had been filed in the apex court challenging the high court verdict.
A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia reserved its verdict on the matter.
(With PTI inputs)