-Reshma Ravishanker

Muslim students must be allowed to sport a hijab at least on Fridays during the holy month on Ramzan till the hijab row is resolved, advocate Dr Vinod Kulkarni submitted on Thursday.

Appearing in the Karnataka High Court in support of students who have been denied permission to wear Hijab to colleges, Dr Kulkarni pleaded that the court give some interim relief in allowing students to wear a hijab to colleges on Fridays of the holy month of Ramadan. This year, Ramadan starts on the evening of April 2.

The hijab row is being heard in the Karnataka High Court where arguments are underway for the fifth day now and is to be continued as the Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadagi said he would present his arguments tomorrow.

Advocate Dr Kulkarni also submitted that the Hijab issue was creating “mass hysteria” and that it was “mentally disturbing” poor Muslim girls.

“Interim relief I am claiming is that pass an order to let Muslim girls sport Hijab at least on Friday, on Juma day, most auspicious day for Muslims and the holy month of Ramzan, which is coming soon (sic),” he urged. He also claimed that banning the Hijab would amount to banning the Quran.

“If all of them agree, we will consider what you argue,” chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi said regarding the issue.  

During an earlier discussion in this regard, the CJ sought to know where in the Quran was the Hijab mandated and sought that the advocate submit proof. 

Also read: Karnataka: ‘Hijab row limited to only 8 high schools, PU colleges’