Bombay High Court dismisses petition against hijab, burqa ban by Mumbai college
Nine female students had challenged the institute’s decision on the grounds that it violated their fundamental right to privacy.
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The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by nine female students against a Mumbai college’s decision to ban the wearing of hijabs, burqas and niqabs on its campus, Live Law reported.
In addition to hijabs, burqas and niqabs, the dress code also prohibits students from wearing stoles, caps and badges on the college premises, PTI reported.
A division bench of Justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil said that it was not inclined to interfere in the decision taken by NG Acharya and DK Marathe College of Arts, Science and Commerce.
The nine students are in their second and third year of a science degree course at the college, which is run by the Chembur Trombay Education Society. They had approached the High Court challenging the college’s decision on June 14.
The petitioners said that the move violated their fundamental rights to privacy and choice, as well as the right to practice their religion. They called the ban “arbitrary, unreasonable, bad-in-law and perverse”.
The students also argued that they had been wearing the niqab and hijab for several years, inside and outside the college, Live Law reported.
At a hearing last week, the college, represented by Senior Advocate Anil Anturkar, told the court that the dress code was imposed to avoid the display of religious symbols, apart from...
