Supreme Court Stays Order To Ban Hijab, Burqa In Mumbai Colleges: Supreme Court stays order to ban hijab, burqa and niqab in Mumbai colleges

New Delhi. The Supreme Court has partially stayed the order of a Mumbai college banning hijab, burqa, cap and niqab on campus. The apex court reprimanded the educational institution and said that girl students should have the freedom to choose what they wear. Educational institutions cannot impose their choice on them. The court also asked whether a ban will also be imposed on girls who wear bindi and tilak?

The bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar gave this order on the petition filed by Muslim girl students in which they had challenged the order of the Mumbai High Court. Mumbai’s NG Acharya and DK Marathe College had banned wearing hijab, niqab, burqa, cap in the college campus. Muslim girl students had filed an appeal in the High Court against this order, but the High Court refused to interfere in the matter and dismissed the petition. The High Court, while dismissing the petition, had said that such rules do not violate the fundamental rights of the students, the dress code is implemented in the college to maintain discipline. After this, these girl students knocked the door of the Supreme Court, from where they have got relief till further orders.

Arguing on behalf of the college, lawyer Madhavi Divan said that this order does not affect all the girls of Muslim community studying in the college, but only those who have filed the petition. On this, the Supreme Court asked why are you issuing such circulars. On the other hand, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said that wearing hijab is the right of Muslim women, but schools and colleges also have their own rights. They have their own laws and everyone should follow those laws. When a dispute arises, the final decision should be made by the Supreme Court and everyone should respect that decision.