SC Hijab Case Day 9 | 'Not Less Muslim Without Hijab,' Says Karnataka Govt

"On a plain reading of the text, the hijab is not mandatory," Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi argued.

The Supreme Court continued to hear a batch of petitions against the Karnataka High Court’s order to ban the wearing of hijab by Muslim girls in educational institutions for the ninth day on Wednesday, 21 September.

The petitions are being heard by Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia. On being asked by Justice Gupta if wearing the hijab is an essential religious practice, the state counsel for Karnataka, Advocate General (AG) Prabhuling Navadgi, said that a woman not donning the hijab does not become "less Muslim."

While the petitioners, being represented by senior advocate Dushyant Dave, had concluded their arguments on Tuesday, the Bench is now hearing the arguments from the State Counsels.

The AG argued that not every religious practice is protected under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, and asserted that the petitioners must show that wearing the hijab is a religious practice essential to Islam.