Hijab row: Karnataka HC to announce verdict TODAY - Here's a timeline of the case

The full bench of the Karnataka High Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on the Hijab case, at 10:30 am today.

The demand by a section of girls in an Udupi pre-university college to wear a Hijab inside their classrooms erupted into a major row after some Hindu students turned up in saffron shawls with the issue spreading to other parts of the state, even as the government insisted on a uniform norm.

According to the lawyers appearing for the petitioner girls from Udupi district, the matter pertaining to Hijab case has been listed for Tuesday as serial No. 1 and the court may spell out the operative part of the verdict from 10.30 am onwards.

Before the verdict is pronounced, here is a timeline of the case:

December 2021: Six students of Udupi Women’s PU College staged a protest as college authorities did not let hijab-clad girls inside the classroom

January 3: Hindu students of Government College in Koppa, Chikmagalur, have staged a protest. They demanded for permission to wear saffron scarves if Muslim girl students were allowed to wear hijabs.

January 6: Similar protests erupt in Pompei college of Mangaluru.

January 14: The protesting female Muslim students in Udupi accused their principal is not allowing them to attend classes.

January 26: The Karnataka Education Department formed a committee to prepare guidelines on uniforms at PU colleges across the state. The PU board has also asked colleges to maintain the status quo until then.

January 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to the Karnataka government for not letting girl students enter the government college in Udupi.

January 31: Case reaches High Court as Students from Udupi Women’s PU college request interim relief from HC to attend classes wearing hijab.

Read | Hijab case verdict: Gatherings, protests, celebrations in any public place restricted until March 21 

February 2: Kundapur Government PU college shut its gates to girl students wearing hijab as Hindu students carrying Saffron scarves. A similar protest in another college of Shivamogga District.

February 3: Now another college in Kundapur college admin shut its gates to students wearing Hijab and Saffron Scarves. More protests in Byndoor Government PU College.

February 5: Bhandarkar's college in Udupi denied entry to students wearing hijab or saffron shawls. Students shouting "Jai Shree Ram" slogans outside the college.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government ordered a ban on wearing clothes that disturb equality, integrity and public order. "Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice," the government order said.

February 7: Government PU College Kundapura allows students to wear hijab but they were seated in separate classrooms. In a separate incident, a stand-off ensued between students wearing saffron and blue shawls in Chikkamagaluru.

February 7: CM Bommai appeals to students to maintain peace.

February 8: Karnataka HC hears petition on Hijab row. The court asked students and the public at large to maintain peace and added that it would hear the case only on the basis of the Constitution and "not by passion or emotions' '.

February 8: CM Basavaraj Bommai ordered all high schools and colleges to remain shut for three days.

February 9: Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi constituted a full bench to hear the Hijab row. Justices Krishna S Dixit and JM Khazi were accompanying the CJ.

February 10: The SC refused to list a plea seeking transfer of hijab row petitions from the Karnataka High Court to the apex court on an urgent basis.

February 14: As schools opened in Karnataka; pictures and videos poured in, showing students and teachers being asked to take off their hijab and burqa before entering the campus.

February 16: Pre-university colleges and schools opened a few days ago were shut for a week.

February 23: The Karnataka High Court stated that its interim order in the hijab case is applicable to all educational institutions as long as the matter is sub-judice. Court also said that if an institute wants, it may prescribe a uniform at any given time.

February 25: The Karnataka High Court reserved its judgement in the hijab row after a marathon hearing in the case.