India / Karnataka High Court asks lawyers to finish their arguments by Friday

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday asked lawyers in the hijab case to conclude their arguments by Friday. The court indicated that it would soon pronounce a verdict in the case. High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi told the lawyers that the arguments should be over by Friday. A bench of three judges including the Chief Justice is hearing the matter. The Chief Justice also asked the parties concerned to submit their written submissions within two to three days.

Meanwhile, in counter arguments, advocate Devdutt Kamat said that his client studies in a co-educational college, where he had taken admission two years back. According to Kamat, she used to wear the hijab from the time she joined college, but was suddenly banned.

Kamat told the court that he was not asking for any general declaration on the hijab that it was part of an essential religious practice, but his argument pertained to a February 5 government order prohibiting all students from wearing such clothes. Due to which there is a possibility of disturbance of peace, harmony and public order.

Kamat said the order could not survive and should be quashed. "If the government order is set aside, there will be no restriction on the exercise of the fundamental right under Article 25," the lawyer argued. In response, the Chief Justice wanted to know that how can he insist on wearing hijab in an educational institution having the prescribed uniform and what is the fundamental right with the petitioner? He also asked Kamat to establish that the hijab is part of a religious practice.

Justice Awasthi said, 'We are not talking about any restriction. We are only talking about your right, for which you are insisting." In response, Kamat told the bench that this right is derived from the Quran and Hadith. Recently, the case started in a college in Udupi after girls wearing hijab were stopped from entering classes. Later the girls moved the court.