Karnataka hijab row: How events unfolded; timeline of the case ahead of Karnataka HC verdict

The Karnataka High Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi will pronounce its judgment in the hijab controversy on Tuesday, March 15. The bench also comprising Justice JM Khazi and Justice Krishna S Dixit had heard for 11 days a batch of pleas against the ban on wearing the hijab in educational institutions in the state. The Court had reserved judgment on February 25.

The demand by a section of girls in an Udupi pre-university college to wear a hijab inside their classrooms erupted into a major row after some Hindu students turned up in saffron shawls with the issue spreading to other parts of the state, even as the government insisted on a uniform norm. The girls approached the High Court and demanded that they should be allowed to enter classrooms while wearing hijabs.

As HC issued interim orders that no hijab or saffron shawl is allowed in the schools and colleges, petitioners have challenged this in the Supreme Court. However, the apex court refused to hear the matter and asked the petitioners to seek relief from the High Court.

Here’s the timeline of the case:

December 2021: Six students of Udupi Women’s PU College staged a protest as college authorities did not allow hijab-clad girls enter the classroom.

January 3: Hindu students of a government college in Chikkamagaluru's Koppa, protested the hijab by wearing saffron scarves and said it should be allowed if hijabs are permitted.

January 6: Pompei college of Mangaluru witnessed similar protests.

January 14: The protesting female Muslim students in Udupi accused their principal of not allowing them to attend classes.

January 26: The Karnataka Education Department formed a committee to prepare guidelines on uniforms at PU colleges across the state. The PU board has also asked colleges to maintain the status quo until then.

January 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to the Karnataka government for not letting girl students enter the government college in Udupi.

January 31: Case reaches High Court as students from Udupi Women’s PU college request interim relief from HC to attend classes wearing hijab.

One of the Muslim girl students of Udupi college approached the Karnataka High Court seeking interim relief to attend classes wearing hijab. The writ petition filed on behalf of the student Resham Farooq said the students’ right to wear hijab is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 14 and 25 of the Constitution and is an essential part of Islam.

February 2: Kundapur Government PU college shut its gates to girl students wearing hijab as Hindu students carrying Saffron scarves. Similar protest in another college of Shivamogga District.

February 3: Now another college in Kundapur college admin shut its gates to students wearing Hijab and Saffron Scarves. More protests in Byndoor Government PU College.

February 5:  Bhandarkar’s college in Udupi denied entry to students wearing hijab or saffron shawls. Students shouting “Jai Shree Ram” slogans outside the college.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government ordered a ban on wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity and public order. “Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice,” the government order said. It said the students have to wear the dress chosen by the College Development Committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of the pre-university colleges, which come under the pre-university education department.

February 7: Government PU College Kundapura allows students to wear hijab but they were seated in separate classrooms. In a separate incident, a stand-off ensued between students wearing saffron and blue shawls in Chikkamagaluru.

Meanwhile, CM Bommai appealed to students to maintain peace.

February 8: Karnataka HC hears petition on Hijab row. The court asked students and the public at large to maintain peace and added that it would hear the case only on the basis of the Constitution and "not by passion or emotions' '.

CM Basavaraj Bommai ordered all high schools and colleges to remain shut for three days.

February 9: Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi constituted a full bench to hear the hijab row. Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi were accompanying the CJ.

February 10: The SC refused to list a plea seeking transfer of hijab row petitions from the Karnataka High Court to the apex court on urgent basis.

February 14: As schools opened in Karnataka; pictures and videos pouring in, showing students and teachers being asked to take off their hijab and burqa before entering the campus.

February 16: Pre-university colleges and schools opened a few days ago were shut for a week.

February 23: The Karnataka High Court stated that its interim order in the hijab case is applicable to all educational institutions as long as the matter is sub-judice and that if an institute wishes, it may prescribe a uniform at any given time.

February 25: The Karnataka High Court reserved its judgement in the hijab row after a marathon hearing in the case.