Supreme Court to Hear Plea Challenging Dress Code Ban in Mumbai College

The Supreme Court will review a plea against a Bombay High Court decision supporting a Mumbai college's ban on hijabs, burqas, and naqabs. This follows similar debates in Karnataka. The high court ruled that dress codes don't violate students' fundamental rights, sparking controversy over religious freedoms and institutional authority.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea on Friday challenging a Bombay High Court verdict that upheld a Mumbai college's decision to ban hijabs, burqas, and naqabs within the campus.

On Thursday, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged the submissions of a lawyer, emphasizing that term exams begin today and minority community students could face difficulties due to the dress code instructions. Lawyer Abiha Zaidi, representing the petitioners, including Zainab Abdul Qayyum, sought an urgent hearing due to the unit tests commencing. Chief Justice Chandrachud confirmed, 'It is coming up tomorrow (Friday). I have listed it already.'

Previously, the high court had refused to challenge the Chembur Trombay Education Society's N G Acharya and D K Marathe College's decision, stating that such rules do not infringe on students' fundamental rights. The court maintained that a dress code promotes discipline and is part of the college's right to establish and administer an educational institution.

(With inputs from agencies.)