“I Will Take A Call On It”, Says CJI DY Chandrachud On Application For Permission To Wear Hijab During Upcoming Examination

A group of girl students from Karnataka have moved an application before the Supreme Court for permission to wear headscarves (hijab) during examinations commencing from March 9.

“I’ll take a call on it”, said a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha when an early date of hearing was sought by mentioning the matter.

“Milord, this is regarding headscarf (hijab) matter. Exams are beginning on 9th March. They’ll lose one more year. The only prayer is only to let them take part in examination”, said Advocate Shadan Farast who mentioned the matter before the Court for urgent listing.

“Why are they not allowed to take exams?”, asked Chief Justice Chandrachud.

“If they wear a headscarf, they are not being allowed to enter wearing it (hijab). Milord, IA may be listed on Friday or Monday”, replied Advocate Farasat.

The CJI said that he will take a call on the issue. Many girl students have enrolled in private institutions after the Karnataka Government banned the wearing of hijab in state-aided educational institutions. However, the examinations are to be conducted in government institutions.

The application has been preferred with a limited prayer to allow girl students wearing headscarves in government institutions for the purpose of appearing in examinations.

In October 202, The two-judge Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia had delivered a split verdict on the hijab row.

In view of the divergent opinions, the Bench had directed that the matters be placed before the Bench of CJI to consider setting up a three-judge bench to adjudicate the case following the split verdict.