A full-bench of the Karnataka High Court will continue hearing a batch of petitions filed by female Muslim students against the ban on wearing hijab by certain Karnataka colleges.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi had earlier passed 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.
During the previous hearing on Friday, the Karnataka government told the Court that that the practice of wearing hijab must pass the test of constitutional morality laid down by the Supreme Court in the judgments in Sabarimala and Triple Talaq cases.
The hearing will resume at 2.30 PM today when the State government is expected to continue its submissions.
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.