Hijab Row: Day 5 hearing before Karnataka High Court [LIVE UPDATES]

A full-bench of the Karnataka High Court will continue hearing a batch of petitions filed by female Muslim students against ban on wearing hijab by certain Karnataka colleges.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi started hearing the case last Thursday and proceeded to pass an interim order, directing students not to wear hijab, saffron shawls (bhagwa) or use any religious flags while attending classes in Karnataka colleges which have a prescribed uniform in the interim.

The petitioners had also filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the interim order but the top court is yet to hear the same.

The matter before the High Court was earlier being heard by single-judge Justice Krishna S Dixit who on February 9, referred it to a larger Bench stating that the case involves important issues.

Yesterday, Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar, appearing for the petitioners asked the Bench why only Muslim girl students were being targeted while the religious symbols/ garments of other communities were being allowed.

Senior Advocate Yusuf Muchhala also advanced his arguments yesterday.

The hearing will resume at 2.30 PM.

Read live updates from yesterday's hearing here.

Read more on the State’s affidavit before the High Court here.

Read more about the petitions before High Court here and here.

Live updates from today’s hearing below.