BENGALURU: The State Government has decided to allow those girl students who missed their exams amidst the hijab row to appear for re-examination, albeit with some conditions. Law Minister JC Madhuswamy said the government will be allowing only those students who missed their exams before the Karnataka High Court’s interim order on February 10, and they will only be allowed to write the exam without the hijab.

Replying to Bhat, Madhuswamy said there is a Constitutional obligation on the State Government, after the High Court has given its verdict. “Neither the government nor citizens can overrule the court’s decision. We only have the right to appeal to the apex court if we are unhappy with the judgment. In this case, the Karnataka Government is bound to implement the High Court’s order until any further orders come from higher courts. Children who did not attend exams due to ignorance or innocence will be allowed to take exams. But only those who missed their exams before the interim order will be allowed,” he reiterated.

Madhuswamy also informed that the State Government has taken the bandh called against the High Court’s order on hijab seriously. He added that if some people are unhappy with the judgment, they have the right to appeal in the Supreme Court, calling the bandh as ‘Contempt of Court’. “We will take action against them accordingly,” he said.

Reacting to this, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said that everyone must follow the court order. “But if some people are unhappy with the judgment, they have the right to protest peacefully,” he added. 

BENGALURU: “Paramaathmanige saavilla” (There’s no death to the Supreme Lord)! That is what came out strongly on Thursday as emotional fans of late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar — fondly called Appu — celebrated the day for two reasons. 

‘James’ has set records not just all over Karnataka, but worldwide too. The film was released in 286 single screens, and 180 multiplexes across Karnataka.  Bengaluru alone had over 1,000 shows, and a total of over 2,000 shows across Karnataka. Worldwide, ‘James’, released in five languages, recorded over 4,000 shows.

The film bagged first day collection of over Rs 10 crore in Karnataka alone; and made an approximate collection of Rs 30 crore worldwide. With houseful shows, and tickets booked till this weekend, the team is expecting to join the Rs 100 crore club within a week.

Puneeth ‘raj’ on fans, streets become dance floors

The celebrations began at the stroke of midnight as March 16 gave way to Puneeth Rajkumar’s birthday. His brother Raghavendra Rajkumar, and his sons Vinay Rajkumar, Yuvarajkumar, Sriimurali celebrated with fans, and later, at 6 am on Thursday, the entire Rajkumar family watched ‘James’ at Veeresh theatre. The theatre saw a floating population of at least 20,000 fans who came only to see the 30 cutouts of Appu put up there.

On the opening day, several theatres across Karnataka kept seats, numbered 17, vacant in all the rows in honour of the late star as March 17 is his birthday. Mysuru saw a whopping 110-plus shows across the district, setting a new record. Several fans erected a 70-ft cutout of Puneeth Rajkumar in front of DRC Cinemas at BM Habitat Mall and hired a helicopter to shower flower petals on it.

Similarly, Puneeth fans got together and installed a statue in a temple-like structure at Paduvarahalli in Mysuru earlier and milk abhishekham was performed. Interstingly, an entire extended family of 150 members booked an entire hall at PVR Cinemas to watch the movie in Mysuru. Puneeth’s wife Ashwini Revanath paid a visit to her husband’s memorial at Kanteerava Studios in Nandini Layout, which witnessed over 30,000 people paying their tributes to their beloved star through the day.

Puneeth’s eldest brother and ‘Hattrick Hero’, Shivarajkumar, arrived at Gayathri theatre on 100-Feet Road to watch the film along with Puneeth’s fans. Charity, blood donation drives, installation of statues, fireworks, showering of flowers, distribution of food, rallies was the order of the day across Karnataka. Lakhs of fans, young and old, commemorated the 47th birth anniversary of the Power Star in their own ways. Fans also organised eye donation camps in honour.

Others organised food distribution camps which are expected to continue till the weekend. Meanwhile, hospitals like Fortis used the opportunity to spread awareness on heart conditions and organised free cardiac check-ups for people. The entire Sandalwood fraternity and politicians took to Twitter to express their sentiments on the actor’s birthday and on his last movie.

The scenes were no less in parts of Chamarajanagar district, Hassan, Hubbali, Kolar as several fans celebrated his birth anniversary, and paid tributes. Fans have an emotional connect with ‘James’. The movie, a firsttime collaboration between Puneeth Rajkumar and director Chethan Kumar, is an action entertainer backed by producer Kishore Pathikonda.

It is about an Army officer, Santhosh Kumar, played by Puneeth Rajkumar, who decides to quit his job to run a security agency. What is his purpose? What is the intention behind the title ‘James’? The answers to these questions make up the second half of the film, which ends up becoming a revenge drama. In the US, a host of events have been lined up in California, New York, New Jersey area, Los Angeles and other places.

Award ceremony after talks with Puneeth family: CM

Bengaluru: As the state celebrated the birth anniversary of Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the late actor’s life, conduct in public and helping nature towards the poor are “exemplary and inspiring.’’ The CM said, “We should remember his huge achievements and good work at such a young age.

We would have been celebrating his 47th birthday today if he were alive. His life is an inspiration to us, though we all are in grief after losing him.” He also wished success for the Puneet starrer ‘James’, which hit the screens on Thursday.

“The date to present the ‘Karnataka Ratna’ award to Puneeth posthumously will be decided in consultation with his family members. A committee will be formed to organise the award presentation function in a befitting manner,” he said. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah reiterated that the government should give Puneeth a Padma Shri.

Nasheman News

The bandh call given by some Muslim organisations to mark their protest against the Karnataka High Court verdict on the hijab issue evoked mixed response across the state. While in some places, business continued as usual, at other places commercial establishments owned by members of the community were completely shut.

The State Government, meanwhile, has taken serious note of the bandh, terming it as ‘contempt of court’. Law Minister J C Madhuswamy told the Assembly on Thursday, “We will take action against them accordingly.” He added that those unhappy with the judgment can appeal in the Supreme Court.

In the state capital Bengaluru, there was mixed response. Shops and businesses in areas like Shivajinagar, Commercial Street, Tannery Road, Frazer Town and Kalasipalya remained closed through the day. In many other areas, Muslim traders had kept their establishments open.

At the epicentre of the controversy in Udupi, there was good response from the community as most shops were shut. In Dakshina Kannada district, a majority of Muslims shut their business establishments. In Hubballi, Belagavi and Kalaburagi, there was poor response. However, the communally sensitive Bhatkal town in Uttara Kannada district turned into a fortress with businesses closed. 

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing after Holi vacation the pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom saying it is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islamic faith.

A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for some students, that urgent hearing was needed keeping in mind the upcoming examinations.

“The urgency is that there are many girls who have to appear in examinations,” the senior lawyer told the bench which also comprised Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli. “Others also mentioned, let us see…we will list after the vacations. Give us time,” the CJI said.

Some petitions have been filed against the full bench high court verdict on the case in which it was held that wearing hijab is not a part of essential religious practice in Islamic faith under Article 25 of the constitution.

The high court dismissed the petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi, seeking permission to wear Hijab inside the classroom. The prescription of school uniform is only a reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object to, the high court said.

UDUPI: As the Karnataka High Court pronounced the much expected verdict on Tuesday on hijab row stating wearing hijab is not an essential religious practice, the students who faced the setback after challenging the ban on wearing hijab inside classrooms have decided to wait and watch before arriving at their decision.

Asked whether Ayesha and others will go to college when the ban on hijab inside classrooms has to be followed now strictly as per High Court order, sources said she has not yet decided on that aspect.

Another student petitioner Aliya Assadi had on Monday, a day before the high court verdict had tweeted “Tomorrow is a verdict day and Hope that justice will be served to the students who were struggling for their fundamental rights. Hopefully once again we’ll be getting back to our normal educational life. Lets pray harder to Almighty. Indeed, he the best planner” (sic).

She was not available for comments on the verdict. Meanwhile, Athaulla Punjalukatte, state president of CFI told that High Court has passed an order, but the students who fought for their right to wear hijab have not got the justice. ”It is unconstitutional to delay the rights of the students, so we will go for continued legal fight,” he said.

Tight police protection was provided near Women’s Government PU College, Udupi, on Tuesday. It is the six students from this college who had challenged the ban on hijab inside classrooms before the High Court, Karnataka.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner Kurma Rao had on Monday declared holiday for schools and collegesin Udupi district on Tuesday, as the High Court was expected. Rao had said prohibitory order clamped under section 144 of CrPC in the 200 meter radius of educational institutions will continue to be in effect in areas around al Pre University Colleges and Degree Colleges.

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed students not to skip classes and also exams. “It is question of your future, education is very important,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Bommai said that the order by government is upheld and said that hijab is not part of essential practice of Islamic and that everyone has to follow the high court order. He also appealed to people to maintain peace while implementing the order. “I also appeal to all religious heads, parents and students to maintain peace,” he said.

When asked about students boycotting exams in this season, the chief minister requested them not to skip exams as “future is important more than anything”. He said that they have already made arrangements to maintain and order. “If anyone tries to violate the law, action will taken against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state government is also looking to bring amendments in the law. Primary and secondary education minister BC Nagesh said that the lacunae in the Karnataka Education Act will be set right. “Uniform helps to bring everyone to the National Mainstream,” he said .

AURANGABAD: The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi moved the Bombay High Court after the police denied permission to felicitate Muskan Khan, who became famous during pro-Hijab protests in Karnataka, in Aurangabad city in Maharashtra, VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar said on Monday.

“Though the police denied us the permission to felicitate Bibi Muskan Khan in Aurangabad, we are hoping to felicitate her after March 22 when the order of the high court is expected,” Ambedkar told reporters.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and the Muslim Ittehad Front wanted to felicitate Khan and her family members in Aurangabad but the police didn’t allow us, he said.

“The VBA moved the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay HC after permission was denied by the police,” Ambedkar said.

He said the police have been directed to submit their stand in the HC by March 22.

Muskan Khan, a girl student from Karnataka, became the face of pro-Hijab protests across India.

In a video that had gone viral, she was seen shouting religious slogans when heckled by a group of saffron-clad students for wearing hijab.

Meanwhile, Ambedkar criticised Maharashtra opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis over the pen-drive submitted by him in the Assembly last week.

Fadnavis had claimed that the pen-drive contained several hours of footage of political conspiracies being hatched by some MVA leaders to frame him and other BJP leaders in false cases.

“Fadnavis should have submitted the pen drive to people if he is a true whistleblower,” he said.

BENGALURU: In a landmark judgment, the Karnataka High Court ruled that wearing of hijab by Muslim women is does not form essential religious practice in the Islamic faith and prescribing uniform is not a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) and 25 of the Constitution. 

Answering to the question of whether the prescription of school uniform is not legally permissible as being violated petitioners’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1) (a) (freedom of expression and Article 21 (privacy), the court said that the prescribing uniform is a reasonable restriction which is constitutionally permitted which cannot be objected by the students. 

Upholding the government order dated February 5, 2022, banning the hijab in classrooms, a full bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justices Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi pronounced the much-awaited verdict of a batch of petitions questioning the order passed by the state government banning the wearing of hijab in classrooms. 

Dismissing the batch of petitions devoid of merits, the court noted that the government has the power to issue order prescribing uniform. The court also said that no case is made out to issue direction to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the authorities of the college in the Udupi district who were not allowed students for wearing hijab. 

The petitioners-students from Government PU College for Girls at Udupi and several others have challenged the government order. 

Purdah or burqa may not be an essential practice but a headscarf or hijab is an essential part of Islam, and two judgments of the Kerala High Court and the Madras High Court, which has gone through Islamic verses and scriptures, have arrived at this conclusion, the petitioners’ counsels argued.   

In the counter, the state government contended that the hijab is not an essential religious practice. Citing several supreme court’s judgments, starting from Shirur Mutt to Sabarimala cases, in support of his arguments that wearing hijab is not essential religious practice under Article 25 of the Constitution, the state argued that petitioners-students have placed zero materials to substantiate their claim to declare that wearing hijab is an essential religious practice.

On February 10, 2022, the full bench had passed the interim order restraining all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawl (Bhagwa), scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, pending consideration of the petitions. 

However, the court made it clear that this interim order is confined to such of the institutions wherein the College Development Committees (CDCs) have prescribed the student dress code/uniform. Later, the court had clarified that the interim order will apply to degree colleges also.

On January 1, six girl students of a college in Udupi attended a press conference held by Campus Front of India (CFI) in the coastal town protesting against the college authorities denying them entry into the classroom wearing Hijab.

This was four days after they requested the principal permission to wear Hijabs in classrooms which was not allowed.

Till then, students used to wear Hijab to the campus and entered the classroom after removing the scarves, the college principal Rudre Gowda had said.

“The institution did not have any rule on Hijab-wearing as such and no one used to wear it to the classroom in the last 35 years. The students who came with the demand had the backing of outside forces,” Gowda had said.