Editor's Pick: SC's assurance in hijab row, and a caution

The Supreme Court on Friday assured protection of constitutional rights and intervention at the “appropriate time” even as it cautioned against “spreading” the controversy triggered by the hijab ban in Karnataka classrooms to a “national level.” Addressing senior advocate Devadut Kamat, appearing for some student petitioners, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said, “Do not spread things to a larger level. We are watching what is happening there. You have to think whether it is necessary to bring it to a national level. If there is something wrong, we will protect your constitutional rights. We are also concerned. Let us see… at the appropriate time, we will interfere.” Mr. Kamat was orally mentioning an appeal against an “interim order” of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday in petitions challenging the hijab ban in classrooms. “The High Court has indicated that it would pass an interim order that none of the students should wear anything which would disclose their religious identity… Such an order would have wide ramifications not only for Muslims but also for people following other faiths. For example, Sikhs wear turbans. Such an order would amount to a complete suspension of Article 25 [right to religious freedom],” Mr. Kamat submitted. He urged the CJI to list the appeal for hearing on Monday. “Please leave it to us,” the CJI assured him. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State government, said the High Court order was yet to come out. “We do not know what the order is yet. Meanwhile, the issue should not be made communal or political,” Mr. Mehta submitted. Mr. Kamat countered that the appeal delved solely on constitutional issues and had nothing communal or political about it. In their petition, the students of a government college in Karnataka have raised several questions – whether the effect of an interim order passed by a constitutional court can be the suspension of fundamental rights of citizens, guaranteed under Articles 15, 19,21, and 25; when hijab is an essential facet of the belief and faith of the petitioners, will the honourable High court direct them to give up their faith in order to attend an educational institution? The High Court of Karnataka has restrained all students, regardless of their religion or faith, from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab, religious flags or the like within classrooms until further orders. However, the court made it clear that “this order is confined to such of the institutions wherein the College Development Committees (CDC) have prescribed the student dress code/uniform.” The court requested the Karnataka government and all other stakeholders to reopen educational institutions and allow students to return to classes at the earliest. With the pandemic impacting education, and exams due in March, keeping students away from the classroom is not a “happy thing” to happen as the High Court observed, and that’s why it is an important story of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click hereThe Hindu's Editorial Trumped-up rhetoric: On Yogi Adityanath’s illogical remarks Clearing the airways: On quarantine-free entry for travellers Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Singh is the grandson of which former Prime Minister of India? 1. Chandra Sekhar 2. Vishwanath Pratap Singh 3. Chaudhary Charan Singh 4. Morarji Desai To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 12 FEBRUARY 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( SC's assurance in hijab row, and a caution [SC's assurance in hijab row, and a caution] The Supreme Court on Friday assured protection of constitutional rights and [intervention at the “appropriate time”]( even as it cautioned against “spreading” the controversy triggered by the hijab ban in Karnataka classrooms to a “national level.” Addressing senior advocate Devadut Kamat, appearing for some student petitioners, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said, “Do not spread things to a larger level. We are watching what is happening there. You have to think whether it is necessary to bring it to a national level. If there is something wrong, we will protect your constitutional rights. We are also concerned. Let us see… at the appropriate time, we will interfere.” Mr. Kamat was orally mentioning an appeal against an “interim order” of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday in petitions challenging the hijab ban in classrooms. “The High Court has indicated that it would pass an interim order that none of the students should wear anything which would disclose their religious identity… Such an order would have wide ramifications not only for Muslims but also for people following other faiths. For example, Sikhs wear turbans. Such an order would amount to a complete suspension of Article 25 [right to religious freedom],” Mr. Kamat submitted. He urged the CJI to list the appeal for hearing on Monday. “Please leave it to us,” the CJI assured him. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State government, said the High Court order was yet to come out. “We do not know what the order is yet. Meanwhile, the issue should not be made communal or political,” Mr. Mehta submitted.  Mr. Kamat countered that the appeal delved solely on constitutional issues and had nothing communal or political about it. In their petition, the students of a government college in Karnataka have raised several questions – whether the effect of an interim order passed by a constitutional court can be the suspension of fundamental rights of citizens, guaranteed under Articles 15, 19,21, and 25; when hijab is an essential facet of the belief and faith of the petitioners, will the honourable High court direct them to give up their faith in order to attend an educational institution? The High Court of Karnataka has restrained all students, regardless of their religion or faith, [from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab]( religious flags or the like within classrooms until further orders. However, the court made it clear that “this order is confined to such of the institutions wherein the College Development Committees (CDC) have prescribed the student dress code/uniform.” The court requested the Karnataka government and all other stakeholders to reopen educational institutions and allow students to return to classes at the earliest. With the pandemic impacting education, and exams due in March, keeping students away from the classroom is not a “happy thing” to happen as the High Court observed, and that’s why it is an important story of the day. [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu's Editorial [Arrow][Trumped-up rhetoric: On Yogi Adityanath’s illogical remarks]( [Arrow][Clearing the airways: On quarantine-free entry for travellers]( [underlineimg] Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Singh is the grandson of which former Prime Minister of India? 1. Chandra Sekhar 2. Vishwanath Pratap Singh 3. Chaudhary Charan Singh 4. Morarji Desai To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. [underlineimg] Today's Best Reads [[Taking a byte out of cyber threats] Taking a byte out of cyber threats]( [[‘Mega IPL auction’, a global attraction, all set to unfold] ‘Mega IPL auction’, a global attraction, all set to unfold]( [[In a double bind, facing conservatism and politics] In a double bind, facing conservatism and politics]( [[Collective action key to new U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy] Collective action key to new U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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