Image description: A group of school girls wearing hijab standing in a line (Source: File Photo, The Indian Express)

The State Government in Karnataka, India, recently introduced a Government Order, in effect prohibiting the hijab in schools and colleges. On 15 March 2022, the Karnataka High Court upheld the Order. This brief carefully traverses a range of constitutional and administrative law arguments and forcefully demonstrates both the unconstitutionality of the Government Order and where the decision of the Karnataka High Court falls short. Members of the OxHRH Team, Managing Editor Gauri Pillai and Editor Rishika Saghal, along with colleagues based in India and Australia have authored this timely and important brief.

The brief can be accessed here.