Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Sept 5: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the appellants in the appeals challenging the ban on wearing hijab at government colleges in Karnataka, whether students can come wearing whatever they want in a government institution with a prescribed uniform.
A Bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia also noted that the Karnataka government’s directive permitting college development committees to prescribe uniforms did not appear to violate the right to education.
“You say educational institution cannot issue a rule but what about the State unless there is a statute which prohibits dress code. So tell me can a student come in minis, midis, whatever they want,” Justice Gupta asked during hearing.
The bench stated that while everyone has the freedom to follow their faith, the question is whether this can be done inside an educational institution that has a dress code.
“You may have a religious right and can you take that right within an educational institution where an uniform is prescribed. You may be entitled to wear the hijab or scarf, can you carry the right within an educational institution which prescribes uniform. They are not denying right to education what they are saying as State is you come in the uniform,” the bench said.
The remarks were made following a hearing with Senior Counsel Sanjay Hegde, who was representing one of the appellants in the case.The case will be heard again on September 7 at 2 p.m.
