NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a split verdict on the ban on hijabs in Karnataka's educational institutions and referred the matter to the chief justice of India for constituting a larger bench.
While Justice Hemant Gupta dismissed the appeals against the March 15 verdict of the Karnataka High Court that had refused to lift the ban and held that hijab is not part of "essential religious practice" in Islamic faith, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia allowed the pleas and observed that it is ultimately a "matter of choice".
Following is the chronology of events in the hijab case:
*Jan 1, 2022: Some Muslim students of a pre-university college in Karnataka's Udupi not allowed to attend classes wearing hijab.
*Students barred from classroom start protest against college administration.
*Jan 26: Karnataka govt sets up expert committee to resolve issue.
*Jan 31: Student moves HC against hijab curbs, seeking declaration that wearing hijab is Fundamental Right guaranteed under Constitution of India.
*Feb 5: Karnataka government imposes ban on hijab in classrooms.
*Feb 8: Clash breaks out among the students from two communities in Udupi district college.
*Section 144 imposed in Shivamogga to restricts public gatherings after protests turned violent.
*Karnataka CM orders closure of all high schools and colleges for few days.
*Feb 10: Karnataka HC passes interim order saying colleges in state can reopen, but students cannot be allowed to wear any piece of clothing that is religious till the matter is pending.
*Feb 11: Petitions filed before SC against HC directives in interim order.
*Mar 15: Karnataka HC rules hijab not part of essential Islamic religious practice, upholds state govt's ban on wearing headscarf in educational institutions.
*HC verdict challenged before Supreme Court hours after judgment.
*Jul 13: SC agrees to hear petitions filed against the Karnataka HC's verdict.
*Sep 22: SC reserves verdict on pleas.
*Oct 13: SC delivers split verdict on hijab ban, directs placing appeals against Karnataka HC order before CJI for constitution of larger bench.