Hijab row: Supreme Court vows to protect constitutional rights of every citizen

Bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana says it will take up plea challenging high court order at an appropriate time

TT Bureau, Agencies   |   New Delhi   |  11.02.22 : The Supreme Court on Friday said it will protect the constitutional rights of every citizen and take up at an appropriate time the pleas challenging a direction of the Karnataka High Court asking students not to wear any religious cloth in educational institutions.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana was told by senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for the students, that the high court order has led to the "suspension of fundamental right to practice religion under Article 25 of the Constitution" and the plea be listed for hearing on Monday.

The top court referred to the ongoing hearing in the case, and said, "We will protect the fundamental right of every citizen and will take it up at an appropriate time."

"We will see," the CJI said when Kamat insisted on listing of the plea for urgent hearing.

A girl in Karnataka had approached the Supreme Court after the High Court yesterday advised students to avoid wearing "religious garments" until it decides on a case involving hijab restrictions in schools and colleges, reports NDTV.

"Don't spread these things to a national level. We will interfere only at an appropriate time," Chief Justice NV Ramana said, declining an urgent hearing on the petition.

When a lawyer pressed the court to take it up, arguing that the case had "far-reaching implications" and that students had been wearing the hijab or head scarf for 10 years, the Supreme Court remained firm.

"Please do not spread it to larger levels. We know what is happening. Think over, is it proper to bring these things to Delhi? The national level? If there is anything wrong, we will protect..." Chief Justice Ramana said.