Hijab controversy No ban on hijab in February 5 order government tell in high court

Karnataka hijab controversy: Amid the controversy over the issue of hijab in Karnataka, the state government has told the High Court that its February 5 Government Order (GO) did not ban hijab. Only College Development Committees (CDCs) have been empowered to decide the school's dress.

Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi on Friday told a full bench headed by Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi that a cautious approach has been taken not to interfere in matters related to religious symbols in educational institutions. So she delegated the powers to decide school dress to the CDC. We do not want to interfere in the matters of religious symbols in educational institutions. They (petitioner girls) dragged us unnecessarily and made it an issue. Directly reading the order dated February 5, 2022, he said that we have not banned the hijab.

Explaining the reason behind issuing the order prohibiting wearing of clothes that disturb peace and harmony, he said that the intention was only to ask the students not to wear indecent attire. According to him, the petitioners have unnecessarily dragged the state into this matter. In view of the hijab controversy in educational institutions, a full bench of the High Court had earlier passed an interim order barring students from wearing hijab till the final order is passed.