Ban on hijab in Karnataka schools
I met Supreme Court Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia at a lunch in India International Centre, New Delhi today.
I asked him why held as illegal the ban on hijab by the Karnataka Government in Karnataka schools ? The other judge on the bench, Justice Hemant Gupta, upheld the ban, so now in view of the split verdict, the CJI will nominate a 3 Judge bench.
Justice Dhulia said many Muslim girls are from poor families, whose parents are very conservative, and will not allow their daughters to go to school without a hijab. He was of the view that education was absolutely essential for a child, even if that was possible only by wearing a hijab.
Justice Dhulia’s reasoning has made me change my mind about hijab in schools.
Earlier I was of the view that hijab should be totally banned, as it was an outdated feudal practice. But I think Justice Dhulia is right. If the choice is between going to school with a hijab, and not going to school at all, I prefer the former. Education is absolutely essential for all children, whether with hijab, or without it.
Justuce Markandey Katju
(Justice Katju’s FB post with courtesy)
