SC refuses to entertain PIL for common dress code in educational institutes

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre states and union territories to implement a common dress code for staffers and students in registered educational institutionsA bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia said this is not a matter which should come to the court for adjudicationThe PIL argued that a dress code should be implemented to secure equality and promote fraternity and national integration Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia appearing for PIL petitioner Nikhil Upadhyay said this is a constitutional issue and sought a direction under the Right to Education ActSensing the benchs disinclination to entertain the PIL the counsel withdrew itAlso read Denied money for Bharat Jodo Yatra shopkeeper threatened by Congress workersThe plea had been filed in the backdrop of the Karnataka hijab rowThe same bench headed by Justice Gupta is hearing arguments on a batch of pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions in the stateThe PIL which was filed through lawyers Ashwini Upadhyay and Ashwani Dubey had sought a direction to the Centre to set up a judicial commission or an expert panel to suggest steps for inculcating values of social and economic justice socialism secularism and democracy and to promote fraternity dignity unity and national integration among the studentsAlternatively being custodian of the Constitution and protector of fundamental rights direct the Law Commission of India to prepare a report suggesting steps to secure social equality and to promote fraternity dignity unity and national integration within three months it saidEducational institutions are secular public places and are meant to impart knowledge and wisdom employment good health and contribute to nation building not to follow essential and nonessential religious practices it saidIt is very essential to introduce a Common Dress Code in all schoolscolleges to preserve the secular character of educational institutions otherwise tomorrow Naga Sadhus may take admission in colleges and attend the class without clothes citing essential religious practice the PIL arguedThis 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