The Supreme Court once again on Friday refused an urgent hearing on Karnataka's hijab row, saying it is aware of what is happening, but the Karnataka High Court was already seized of the matter, and it will examine the issue at an appropriate time; also, the apex court does not want the controversy to fan out and become a national issue.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana refused to entertain a petition filed by senior advocate Devadatt Kamat on the interim order passed by the High Court.
On Kamat describing the High Court order as "strange," the Supreme Court told him not to blow it out of proportion into a national issue and wait for the final outcome of the High Court hearing.
The Bench, which also included Justices A S Bopanna and Ms Hima Kohli, had also refused urgent hearing, when pressed on Thursday by senior advocate Kapil Sibal; then, too, the apex court took the plea that the High Court was already seized of the matter.
Kamat insisted that the Karnataka High Court's order -- that no one should wear religious dress or anything that is a manifestation of religious identity -- had far-reaching implications.
The High Court's interim decision to ban all religious dresses, including hijab and saffron shawls, till an order was passed in the matter, saw a student moving the Apex Court challenging the HC order.
The student had relied on certain oral remarks of the full bench of the High Court to seek an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court. He objected to the High Court's interim order, which had said: "We will direct that the institutions shall start. But till the matter is pending before the court, these students and all stakeholders, they shall not insist on wearing religious garments, may be headdress or saffron shawl. We will restrain everyone.”
On Kamat's contention that Article 25 is in danger, the CJI said, "If there is anything wrong, we will protect, but think it over, is it proper to bring these things to Delhi, on a national level?’’
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