New Delhi, August 29: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice on a plea seeking a stay on the Karnataka High Court’s order upholding the ban on hijabs in educational institutions in the state.
A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to the state on the pleas and posted them for hearing on September 5.
The bench pulled up some of the petitioners, who sought adjournment in the matter, and said it would not permit “this kind of forum shopping”.
The apex court said it will not accept a plea seeking adjournment, as an early hearing was sought, and issued a notice to Karnataka Government on the plea.
“You wanted urgent hearing and when the matter is listed, you seek adjournment. We will not permit forum shopping,” Justice Hemant Gupta said.
Earlier, the pleas were mentioned before a bench headed by the then CJI NV Ramana for urgent hearing on several occasions but the case was not listed for hearing.
The appeals were filed in the apex court challenging the order upholding the Karnataka government’s order which directed strict enforcement of schools and colleges’ uniform rules.
One of the appeals in the top court has alleged “step-motherly behaviour of government authorities which has prevented students from practising their faith and resulted in an unwanted law and order situation”.
The appeal said the High Court in its impugned order “had vehemently failed to apply its mind and was unable to understand the gravity of the situation as well as the core aspect of the Essential Religious Practices enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution of India”.
“Wearing of Hijab or headscarf is a practice that is essential to the practice of Islam,” it has added.
