Hijab Row: LIVE UPDATES from Karnataka High Court - Day 8

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.

Yesterday, the State government told the Karnataka High Court that the petitioners were claiming that wearing of hijab was an essential religious practice, with a view to bind every Muslim woman to a particular dress code.

The hearing will resume at 2.30 PM today.

Interestingly, a petition was also filed before the High Court on Monday alleging that hijab controversy in the State is a creation of "tool kit" which has plans to create disturbances and anarchy and in the country and bring down the Government in power at the Centre.

Another Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Petition also came to be filed against more than 60 media houses seeking directions to restrain them from chasing and videographing students and teachers who are on their way to schools and colleges wearing hijab.

Both these petitions are yet to be heard.

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.