New Delhi: Muslim girl students in pre-university colleges who had dropped a year by not appearing in the PUC examination protesting ban on hijab in Karnataka government schools and PU colleges, may lose the current academic year as the Supreme Court refused urgent listing of the plea to allow them to appear with hijab for this year's examinations starting from March 9.
A hijab clad advocate sought urgent hearing of an application filed by 'Sharia Committee for Women' seeking allowing hijab wearing Muslim girl students to appear in PUC examinations. The committee has also challenged a Karnataka HC verdict upholding the state's decision to ban students from wearing religious clothings, including hijab, to government schools and colleges. On October 13 last year, a two-judge bench of the SC had given a split verdict on the validity of the ban, which would require the CJI to constitute a three-judge bench for hearing afresh the appeals.
With no working day available before March 6, when the SC goes for a week-long Holi festival break, CJI D Y Chandrachud said he would constitute a three-judge bench which would commence hearing on the pending appeals immediately after the court resumes judicial work from March 13.
As the second PUC examination commences from March 9, the advocate said, "Those who want to wear hijab to school and colleges have already lost an academic year last year because they were not permitted to enter the college premises wearing hijab. What about this academic year? Should they lose this also?" The CJI said, "I cannot answer your questions. I will constitute a bench and it will commence hearing on the pending appeals as soon as possible."