Hijab Case: CJI to Give Interim Directions Before the Exams

On Monday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud agreed on an urgent listing of the hijab ban case and said that the case will be listed before the three-judge bench. The decision was made to urgently hear the case after a prayer was made to the Supreme Court for clearing the matter before exams. Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora highlighted an interim application for the same as well as for helping Muslim girl students who were not able to attend classes due to the hijab ban in institutes or colleges. 

Advocate Meenakshi Arora said that Muslim students had to move to private institutions after the prohibition of hijab in Government Pre University Colleges. She further stated, “The exams are to be held in government colleges. So the private colleges can’t conduct exam. The practicals will start on 6th of February. We are only praying to take up the matter for interim directions.” 

A split decision was delivered by the Supreme Court judges, Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia while hearing Aishat Shifa vs The State of Karnataka. One of the judges urged that asking Muslim girls to take off their hijabs is an invasion of privacy whereas another judge stated that wearing uniforms is a reasonable restriction as it ensures uniformity and discipline. The top Court then referred the case to a larger bench.