The Karnataka High Court is set to pronounce its verdict in the hijab controversy on Tuesday.
After 11 days of continuous hearing, the HC bench, constituted on February 9 and comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M. Khazi, on February 25 had reserved the order.
Ahead of the verdict, the Bengaluru Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the city from March 15 to 22. "All types of gatherings, agitations, protests, or celebrations in public places are prohibited in Bengaluru," Kamal Pant, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru said.
Pant noted that in the wake of writ petitions being filed before the court challenging the government order on strict enforcement of uniform rule in schools and colleges, protests had been held in certain parts of the state over the last few weeks. Also, at some places, the protests had disturbed public peace and order.
Shivamogga SP B.M. Laxmi Prasad said schools and colleges in the district will remain closed in the district on Tuesday and Section 144 will be in place till March 21. Eight companies of KSRP, six companies of District Armed Reserve, and one company of RAF deployed in the city ahead of the verdict.
The petitions were filed by a group of Muslim girls seeking permission to wear hijab in educational institutions where a uniform has been prescribed. The girls were allegedly denied entry to the Udupi Pre-University Girls' College in December last year for wearing hijab as it was against the prescribed uniform.
"Heard. Order reserved," Chief Justice Awasthi, had said reserving the order.
As the issue of hijab versus saffron scarves spread to several educational institutions in many parts of Karnataka, the state government announced holiday from February 9 to February 15 in all the pre-university college and from February 9 to February 16 in degree and diploma colleges.
In its interim order, the bench asked the state government to reopen the educational institutions, which were hit by the agitation, and restrained students from wearing hijab and saffron scarves in classrooms till the final order in the matter is delivered.
— With inputs from Prathima Nandakumar, PTI
