Shouldn’t a girl decide what she wears: Supreme Court on college hijab ban
- The Supreme Court recently stayed a Mumbai private college’s ban on the wearing of hijab, cap or badges by students on its campus.
Highlights:
- In strong observations that included questions like “should it not be left to a girl to decide what she wants to wear” and how can it be “empowering women by enforcing” a dress code, the Supreme Court stayed a Mumbai private college’s ban on the wearing of hijab, cap or badges by students on its campus.
- Clause 2 of the instructions issued by the college started to follow the dress code of the college of formal and decent dress which shall not reveal anyone’s religion such as No Burkha, No Nakab, No Hijab, No Cap, No Badge, No Stole etc.
- The students, in the plea, sought direction to quash and set aside the impugned instructions and pending hearing of the SLP, it sought a stay saying if this is not done “their lives and careers will be destroyed”.
- The college claimed that the dress code applied to all students, across religious and community lines. It said the objective behind the rules was to not reveal the religion of students.
Prelims Takeaway
- Article 25