NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday brushed aside a bid by Muslim side to make comparisons of hijab with turbans worn by Sikhs, saying it will be improper and go against the top court's judgement declaring it as essential to the faith.
"Wearing turban and (keepin) kirpan is essential for Sikhs. So, comparisons with turbans worn by Sikhs will be improper as 5 Ks of Sikh has been held to be mandatory," a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta, and Sudhanshu Dhulia said.
"A five-judge bench of this court held that wearing turban and kirpan is essential for Sikhs. That is why we are saying comparison with Sikh may not be proper. 5 Ks of Sikh has been held to be mandatory," the bench added.
The court was responding to an argument by advocate Nizamuddin Pasha while hearing a batch of appeals Karnataka High Court's verdict of March 15 upholding the ban on wearing Hijab in educational institutions.
Appearing for the petitioners, Pasha said that like the five Ks in Sikh religion, there are five pillars of Islam and that is the exact position for us.
He said unlike France, Sikh boys here can wear turban to school and it did not interfere with the discipline of the school.
The bench, however, told Pasha that please do not compare Hijab with Sikhism, as it (Sikhism) has been completely ingrained in Indian culture.
The counsel, however, said Islam has been there for 1400 years and hijab has been present since then.
He also claimed the High Court's judgement giving own interpretation on wearing of hijab bordered on blasphemy.
The arguments would now be heard on September 12 when senior advocate Salman Khurshid would put forth his contention on behalf of petitioners.
