The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed it will hear an appeal challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision that upheld a Mumbai college’s ban on wearing hijabs, burqas, and niqabs on campus. The bench, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, agreed to set a hearing date following a request for an urgent listing.
Background of the Case
In June, the Bombay High Court had dismissed a plea by female students from Chembur Trombay Education Society’s NG Acharya and DK Marathe College, who argued that the ban infringed on their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and religious freedom. The college had justified the ban as a neutral dress code applicable to all religious symbols, aiming to prevent any religious identity from being displayed in the classroom.
Court’s Rationale
The High Court had ruled that the dress code did not violate constitutional rights under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25, which cover freedom of expression and religious freedom. The court reasoned that the dress code’s purpose was to ensure students’ focus on education without religious distinctions affecting their academic environment.