Direct infringement of fundamental rights: Fresh plea in SC on K'taka hijab row

A fresh plea was filed in the Supreme Court Thursday on the hijab row in Karnataka raising the issue of the right to practice religion as enshrined as a fundamental right in the ConstitutionThe plea filed by Youth Congress president B V Srinivas and a journalism student contended that there is a direct infringement of fundamental rights and also as events are happening in multiple states and likely to spread further it would be better and proper that the apex court takes cognisance of the issueThe plea said that different high courts in different states may pass conflicting ordersEveryone has the right to wear clothes head gear of their choice and practice their own religion its customs and traditions If a small girl child is seen wearing ldquoHijabrdquo it can be not out of her own choice but for older and adult girls and women wherein it is their choice the right must be protected Belief in religion is one thing but religious fanaticism is another facet altogetherThe consequences of religious bigotry will not be right no matter with what religion this bigotry is associated with At least the schools colleges and educational institutions should not be made the battleground for the fight against religious fanaticism said the plea filed through advocates Roopesh Singh Bhadauria and Mareesh Pravir SahayIt said the dispute related to whether the ldquoHijabrdquo or head scarf is an integral part of Islam or not can end only after consideration of the top court and on the issue of a uniform dress code for educational institutionsAlso any individuals fundamental rights and Constitutional rights on this aspect need to be considered and upheld which include wearing a ldquoHijabrdquo or a head scarf The Muslim girls and women must be given right to choose and right to wear a ldquoHijabrdquo if they choose so as their fundamental right the plea saidEarlier in the day senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned a plea on hijab row before a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana and said the problem is that schools and colleges are closedGirls are being stoned Its spreading across the country he saidThe apex court said it would consider a submission seeking the listing of a plea for transferring a case on the hijab row from the Karnataka High Court to itselfThe top court said that the high court is seized of the case and should be allowed to continue with the hearing and also decide itThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever