The Supreme Court will hear a petition today that challenges the Bombay High Court’s decision to uphold a ban on wearing hijabs, niqabs, burqas, caps, and similar religious attire at a private college in Mumbai. A group of students from NG Acharya & DK Marathe College filed the plea, seeking to overturn the ban, arguing that it violates their fundamental rights.
The matter has become urgent as the petitioners, represented by advocate Abiha Zaidi, face immediate challenges. The college’s term exams began on Thursday, and the students claim the dress code stops them from attending their exams.
Supreme Court To Hear Urgent Appeal Against College Dress Code Limiting Religious Attire
On Thursday morning, Zaidi brought the case to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, emphasizing the need for a quick hearing due to the ongoing exams. The CJI told Zaidi that the case had been assigned to a bench with Justices Sanjiv Khanna and PV Sanjay Kumar, who will hear the plea on Friday.
The controversy began with a dress code enforced by NG Acharya & DK Marathe College in Mumbai, which bans students from wearing clothing that signifies religious identity, such as hijabs, niqabs, burqas, stoles, and caps. Nine female students challenged this dress code in the Bombay High Court, claiming it violates their constitutional rights.
However, on June 26, a bench of Justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh S Patil from the Bombay High Court dismissed the students’ plea. The court ruled that the dress code’s enforcement was limited to the college premises and did not infringe on the students’ broader rights to freedom of choice and expression.
Students Challenge College Dress Code In Supreme Court, Citing Constitutional Violations
After the high court’s decision, the students appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the college’s dress code is arbitrary and discriminatory. They claim that the restrictions violate their constitutional rights, including their right to choose their attire, their right to privacy, and their freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a). They also argue that the dress code infringes on their right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.
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