Well, all eyes are on the Supreme Court decision revolving around the issue of wearing hijab. The verdict that was delivered was a split verdict with Justice Sudhanshu Dhuliya and Justice Hemant Gupta both giving their versions and their feelings on it. They had their own take on it. But this split verdict has basically led to the issue being referred to the Chief Justice of India.
And referred to a higher bench, which could be either a three-member bench or a five-member bench. Now the issue will continue, but this also revolves around what happened in Karnataka. In Karnataka, we did realise on the 1st of January that the issue actually snowballed when a group of girls wearing hijab were not allowed to enter a college in Karnataka's Udupi wearing their hijab. Now the chairman of that institution, Mr. Rahu, is also a BJP MLA.
He had told these girls that this was not part of the dress code or uniform of the institution and that if they wanted to continue to wear them then they would have to find another institution that allows them to wear them or wear their hijab and attend classes as well, because he'd made it very clear that if they had to attend classes or even answer the examinations, they would have to remove their hijab because in an educational institution there is a particular dress code and
That issue, which began on January 1st, snowballed and continued to become a much larger political issue in the state of Karnataka, but has ramifications across the country as well. It was first argued in the Karnataka High Court, where an interim order was also issued, saying basically in upholding what the
A government order was issued saying that no institution would allow any form of scarves or hijab or any saffron coloured shawls or anything that could be representative of any religious background because education is supposed to be secular and when one wears anything that represents a religion is not supposed to be allowed and that is why a uniform or dress code is put in place in any institution. Now, what we have seen in terms of the
The verdict that was delivered today by the two-member judge bench of the Supreme Court is basically saying that education should be secular and there should be a ban because a hijab is not an essential religious practise and that it is supposed to be uh as students who are part of the educational institutions should follow the dress code that has been mentioned, but on the other hand, it is interesting how
The point he raised, the point Justice Julia raised, was on my mind, and what is important to understand is whether we are making her life any better now. He emphasised the importance of education for girls, and that
This split verdict has its own ramifications, as I previously stated. On the one hand, we saw the Karnataka government immediately react, with the Karnataka Education Minister, Mr. BC, saying that he expected a better verdict than this, especially given the background of the case.
The events and incidents that have been taking place in countries such as Iran, where women are removing their burqa hijab because they are talking about how they do not want to be trapped within the system as well, and the Karnataka government has been using this as part of their argument to the courts when they say that on the one hand, you have worldwide protests against hijab and burka and here you have demands that women have the right to exercise their
But on the other hand, we have the argument that has been put forth by the petitioners as well, and they are saying that this, for them, is an essential religious practice and it is also based on religion. What they're saying is that government action has been not only discriminatory towards them, but they also believe that if Muslim girls who wear hijab go to school and study, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that if they wear hijab to school, they will feel that they will
They have been, until recently, uh, even shunted out, and not allowing them to attend classes wearing their hijab or burqa will shut them out even more, and they will not be getting equal opportunities or opportunities to grow in their lives. Now they are saying that there is no law in place that prohibits wearing a hijab, and that was the argument that the petitioners or the girls who became the face of the hijab made.
The issue was also argued in court. Now the government's stand was very clear and they said that this was not an insertion of religious practise and, most importantly, they said that the practise must pass the test of constitutional morality and individual dignity as expounded by the Supreme Court in the Shabri Mala case. Now the government also says that educational institutions have the right to impose a dress code, and they even passed a government order of
This type of thing is now happening with the entire issue in terms of the background that we have provided you with right now. The verdict now lies in the court of the Chief Justice of India. What will also reign upon their minds is the point that was raised by Justice Dulia, where he said are we making these girls' lies any better, and he also stressed the need for the child's education and the importance of education as well.
On the other hand, Justice Heyman Gupta was discussing how educational institutions have their own practices and dress codes to maintain secular secularism in education, and that is why it is important that no signs of scarves, hijab, or any such kind of shawl, or anything that represents a particular religion be seen in an institution.
The state goes to elections in a few months from now, but we'll also need to understand and see how the ruling party BJP reacts to this in terms of their campaign for the political campaigns that will take place as well as the opposition Congress, because we do see how the yatra, which is headed by a congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, is passing through Karnataka and the stand they'll be taking on that as well, because the Congress also has been maintaining that
Wearing a hijab is also about religious factors, about dignity, and these kinds of issues should not interfere when it comes to education or empowering women. The BJP also says that they are also talking about secularism, they're also talking about empowering women, and such kinds of religious practices shouldn't be ones that hinder these young girls, so this debate will continue, and we will have to see how it takes shape.
On the one hand, in the courts, especially the Supreme Court and in the court of the Chief Justice of India, on the other hand, how the Karnataka government also takes it as of now, they have stressed that the rule remains in place that people or girls who want to wear the hijab or the burqa cannot attend classes; or anybody wearing anything; any staff insurance or Bindi or anything cannot be worn while attending classes or answering calls.
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