NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea by a Muslim girl student who had cited “impending examination and loss of academic year” to seek urgent hearing of her petition challenging a Karnataka HC verdict upholding the ban on hijabs in schools and colleges.
Appearing for petitioner Aishat Shifa, senior advocate Devadatt Kamat informed a bench of CJI N V Ramana and Justice Krishna Murari that his client’s first-year pre-university final exams are starting from March 28, necessitating an urgent hearing because she faces the prospect of losing an academic year as she is not allowed to enter the college wearing hijab along with the prescribed uniform.
CJI Ramana refused to fix a date for hearing on the appeals, saying, “Exams have nothing to do with the issue (hijab). Do not sensationalise (the issue).” He also did not permit Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government, to put forth his arguments.
The CJI said many appeals have been filed which would be listed before an appropriate bench as soon as possible.