The Muslim-dominated areas of Bengaluru and other parts of the south Indian state of Karnataka have shut to protest the Karnataka High Court’s verdict upholding the ban on wearing of hijab in educational institutions.
The high court on Wednesday upholding the ban had said that Hijab is not an essential tenant of Islam and said Muslim students will not be allowed to wear Hijabs inside the class.
On Wednesday, the opposition Congress decided to take a neutral stand. “We had a meeting with the religious leaders and have decided to support the legal battle on the issue,” a Congress legislator said regarding the position of Congress Muslim leaders on the hijab issue.
The Supreme Court Wednesday said it will consider listing an appeal challenging the HC verdict after the Holi recess. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana told senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who sought urgent listing, “Others also mentioned. Let us see. We will list after vacation”.
The top court will be closed for Holi for three days starting Thursday and will reopen on March 21.