Hijab ban in classroom: AIMPLB, two others moves SC challenging Karnataka HC verdict

NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which had dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom saying hijab is not a part of the essential religious practice in the Islamic faith. Several other petitions have already been filed in the apex court challenging the high court verdict of March 15. The AIMPLB, along with two other petitioners, has said in its plea that the four issues framed by the high court do not address the “core issue” of whether or not it was necessary to consider the doctrine of essential religious practice where the petitions have asserted their fundamental rights under Article 25(1) and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

“Secondly, while deciding the said issues, the high court has laid too much emphasis on propositions which results into discrimination, exclusion and overall deprivation of a class from the mainstream public education system apart from the fact it seriously encroaches upon an individual’s sacrosanct religious belief,” said the plea, filed through advocate M R Shamshad. The plea said it is a case of “direct discrimination” against the Muslim girls. “Hence laying too much emphasis on bringing ‘uniformity’ in the uniform without accommodating a person of one religion ‘to cover her hair with a piece of cloth’ is travesty of justice. The impugned judgment also ignores the doctrine of reasonable accommodation,” it said.

The plea said determination of essentials under the principles of essential religious practice (ERP) had started with the idea of determination of essential religious practice that fell within the “complete autonomy of the religious denomination” in the matters of deciding as to what rites and ceremonies are essential according to tenets of a religion. “Over a period of time, it appears that the courts have completely taken upon themselves the task to determine what are the essentials and integrals of any and every religion practised in our country for the purpose of regulatory control over them by the State authorities,” it said.

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The plea, which referred to the two judgements delivered by the apex court on right to privacy and also in the Sabarimala matter, said there has been a positive change in the legal regime for upholding individual rights against the state in relation to rights flowing from Article 21 as well as under Article 25 and Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. “As far as interpretation of scriptures in the Holy Quran are concerned there is a consensus amongst religious scholars of all schools of thought namely, ‘Hanafi’, ‘Maliki’, ‘Shafai’ and ‘Hambli’ that practice of Hijab is ‘wajib’ (mandatory), a set of obligations, which if not followed, he/she will commit ‘sin’ or become a ‘sinner’,” the plea said.

The petitioners, in their application seeking permission to file the Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the matter, said the high court judgement legitimizes “Hijab ban” in educational institutions in the state of Karnataka, which goes against the very basic structure of secularism. “It is submitted that the impugned judgment will lead to grave encroachment on the children of the Muslim community and shall lead to a situation where a large section of Muslim girls will be deprived of stream of general education leading them to remain in vulnerability,” it said. Prior to this, several other petitioners have moved the apex court against the full bench high court verdict in the case in which it was held that wearing a hijab is not a part of essential religious practice in the Islamic faith under Article 25 of the Constitution.

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The high court had dismissed the petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear a Hijab inside the classroom. The prescription of school uniforms is only a reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to, the high court had said. The high court had maintained that the government has the power to issue impugned order dated February 5, 2022, and no case is made out for its invalidation. By the said order, the Karnataka government had banned wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity, and public order in schools and colleges, which the Muslim girls had challenged in the high court.

Challenging the February 5 order of the government, the petitioners had argued before the high court that wearing the Islamic headscarf was an innocent practice of faith and an Essential Religious Practice (ERP) and not a mere display of religious jingoism. The petitioners had also contended that the restriction violated the freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(A) and Article 21 dealing with personal liberty.