NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused urgent listing of an application filed by the ‘Sharia Committee for Women’ pleading that Muslim girls in Karnataka government schools and PU colleges be allowed to take the PUC examination starting March 9 clad in hijab.
The committee had also challenged a Karnataka high court verdict upholding the state’s decision to ban students from wearing religious clothings, including hijab, to government schools and col-leges. On October 13 last year, a two-judge bench of the SC had given a split verdict on the validity of the ban, which would require the Chief Justice of India to constitute a three-judge bench for hearing afresh the appeals.
With no working day available before March 6, when theSC goes for a week-long Holi festival break, CJI D Y Chandrachud said he would constitute a bench which would commence hearing on the pending appeals immediately after the court resumes judicial work from March 13.
As the second PUC examination commences from March 9, the advocate said, “Those who want to wear hijab to schools and colleges lost an academic year last year. Should they lose this also?” The CJI said, “I can’t answer your questions. I will constitute a bench and it will commence hearing on the pending appeals as soon as possible”.