Hijab debate and Supreme Court
Please do not compare it with Sikhism. It has been completely ingrained in Indian culture.
–Justice Hemant Gupta
The Supreme Court informed the petitioners in the case contesting the hijab prohibition in Karnataka government educational institutions that any parallels to the turbans worn by Sikhs would be incorrect. The Supreme Court has recognised turbans worn by Sikhs as one of the five essential components of Sikhism, according to a bench presided over by Justice Hemant Gupta.
“We are suggesting a comparison with Sikhs may not be proper,” Justice Gupta said. “There are requirements on turbans. Five-judge bench of this court declared that wearing a turban and kirpan is vital for Sikhs. 5K of Sikhs has been held to be mandatory.”
For one of the petitioners, attorney Nizam Pasha said that Muslim women’s hijabs serve the same purpose.
He explained, “Just like the 5 Ks are the 5 pillars of Islam, that is exactly where we stand.
Please do not compare it with Sikhism. It is completely rooted in Indian culture.”
Similarly, Pasha said, “Islam has also existed for 1,400 years, and the hijab has also existed.”
Pasha further stated that the ruling by the Karnataka High Court maintaining the hijab ban was pertinent and possibly blasphemous.
He asserted that the High Court noted that the Quran’s prescriptions have no current relevance because they date back more than 1500 years. He claimed that the High Court’s assertion that a Quranic verse is no longer applicable constitutes blasphemy.
On September 12, Senior Counsel Salman Khurshid will present his case at the hearing.
