India: Supreme Court to Examine Mumbai College’s Hijab Ban Following High Court Ruling

The Supreme Court of India is set to review a plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision that upheld a Mumbai college’s ban on hijabs, burqas, and naqabs, Muslim Mirror reported yesterday.

The Bombay High Court, on June 26, 2024, ruled that the dress code imposed by Chembur Trombay Education Society’s N G Acharya and D K Marathe College did not infringe on students’ fundamental rights, asserting the college’s authority to maintain discipline.

The high court dismissed claims that the ban violated rights to practice religion and privacy, stating that the dress code was consistent with Articles 19 and 25 of the Constitution. The court also noted that the enforcement of the dress code was limited to the college premises, leaving students’ freedom of expression intact outside the campus.