The Karnataka government will consider re-exams for students who had missed the exams due to the pro-hijab and anti-hijab protests in the state last month. However, the provision will be extended only to those students who had skipped the main exams that were held prior to the Karnataka High Court's interim order on February 11.
While the court, in its interim order, barred students from wearing any "religious clothing" to classrooms till the final order, many students had insisted on wearing the hijab inside the classrooms and subsequently boycotted classes and even exams. Many students continued to skip classes and exams in protest against the the High Court's final verdict on March 15, which upheld the government order banning hijab in educational institutions.
Law Minister J.C. Madhuswamy, while responding to a request made by Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat to allow the girl students to appear for exams, during the zero hour in the assembly on Thursday said, "We will consider re-exams as the students might have boycotted the exams due to their innocence or ignorance. However, we cannot conduct re-exams to those who continued to boycott exams post the interim order as the government has a Constitutional obligation to comply with the court order."
Bhat, who urged the government to conduct re-exams for the girl students who were keen to appear for the exam, complying with the court order, also sought action against students who were spoiling the academic atmosphere in educational institutions by protesting against the High Court order.
Leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah insisted that the students were well within their rights to protest peacefully, and the fact that they have appealed before the Supreme Court was a sign that they disapprove of the High Court verdict.
BJP MLA Jagadish Shettar demanded to know if protesting against the HC verdict amounted to contempt of court. "This protest and calling for bandh against a court order is setting a wrong precedent," said Shettar.
BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi said, "The court has given the judgement after hearing the arguments and counter arguments for 10 days. The law provides for appeal. But does it allow one to disturb peace in the society and academic atmosphere in the name of protest? You (Siddaramaiah) are committing a sin by playing votebank politics."
Madhuswamy reminded the house that there had been a couple of instances like the Cauvery water dispute and kidnap of Dr Rajkumar, when the court orders had been opposed in the state and the state government was reprimanded by the court.
"No citizen is empowered to defy a court order, though appealing against the order is a civil right. We, as the government, have a Constitutional obligation to comply with the court order. Previously, when Karnataka government had approached the apex court seeking permission to release some convicts (as barter) following the kidnap of Dr Rajkumar, the court had asked us to resign and go home if we could not rule. So, complying with the court order also means maintaining law and order in the state," said Madhuswamy.
