Karnataka Hijab Row: Prohibitory Orders Imposed In Various Parts As The State Braces For Verdict

The Karnataka High Court will soon announce its verdict in the hijab row case — an issue that took the entire nation by storm over the last few months. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in various parts of the state to ensure the situation is in control. The ruling has been reserved for almost a fortnight now.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant issued orders prohibiting gatherings of all kinds in public places starting today (15 March) upto 21 March. Section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru, Mangaluru , Udupi, Hassan, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, Dharwad, Davanagere, among others.

Schools and colleges have been ordered shut in Udupi in Dakshina Kannada with external exams taking place as per schedule but all internal exams being postponed. Kalaburagi, Uudpi and Shivamogga too will see all schools and colleges shut today.

The three-member bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice J M Khazi that was constituted on 9 February heard the petition by girls from a government college in Udupi who wished to sport the headscarf inside classrooms against the college orders prohibiting the same.

A government order was issued restraining students from sporting the hijab in institutions that didn't permit the same, in order to avoid disturbing ‘public order’. Protests and chaos rocked the state, after which it announced holiday for schools and pre-university colleges upto 15 February.

The Karnataka High Court then ordered schools to reopen in the state but noted that "students and stakeholders will not insist on wearing any religious garment or head dress".