Hijab Ban- Karnataka High Court Full Bench Hearing (Day 9)- LIVE UPDATES

Poovayya : Maintaining secular order is paramount consideration of the state and also mine as an education institution.

Poovayya: In a constitutional scheme, can we dress our girls differently in the name of modesty? Where is the question of modesty for a girl child coming from? Are girls less? Constitution does not say so.

Poovayya: The basic constitutional value as a school is to impart secular education and to protect dignity of a girl child.

Why is it that we teach our girl child to dress modestly and not boys?

Poovayya refers to Justice Chandrachud's judgment in Sabarimala case.

Poovayya : Or take Hindu faith, if I don't apply tilak or wear saffron attire when I pray, is the essence of Hinduism lost. My conscience says I follow Hindu religion. The attire is just a manifestation.

Poovayya : Does this mean that the other 95% Muslim girls who are not wearing Hijab to school are not practitioners of Islam? Is the essence of Islam lost by a lady not wearing Hijab? Or take Hindu faith, if I don't apply tilak or wear saffron attire when I pray,

Poovayya refers to test of Essential Religious Practice mentioned in Justice Nariman's judgment in Sabarimala case - whether the religion will be altered if the practice is removed?

Poovayya: I cannot allow to wear a Hindu symbol and cannot allow a Muslim girl to wear hijab. If I allow this then where will it come to an end....(audio unclear)..

*** Disturbances in the audio of Poovayya ***

Poovayya : In that secular activity, they cannot bring their religious manifestations to wear.