The Supreme Court began hearing arguments in the batch of petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka on Monday, 5 September.
The matter is being heard by a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
During the course of the hearing, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the Karnataka Education Act does not permit that women be denied access to government education just because they chose to wear hijab along with their uniform.
The bench, however, asked the counsel:
“You say educational institution cannot issue a rule but what about the State unless there is a statute which prohibits dress code…can a student come in minis, midis, whatever they want?”
Hegde, on his part, subsequently went on to submit:
"The uniform codes in most of the girls’ colleges prescribe for girls a salwar kameez with a dupatta… Can you tell a grown woman that she will not have control over her own idea of modesty, and say that you will not wear your chunni over your head?" he further added.