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Crime

K’taka HC upholds ban on hijab in schools & colleges, dismisses all petitions

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The Karnataka High Court’s special bench on Tuesday dismissed all petitions seeking direction for permission to wear hijab in classrooms.

The HC also stated that “wearing of hijab is not an essential part of Islam. Prescription of uniform is constitutional and students can’t object to it.” Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi read the judgement.

“We are of the considered opinion that wearing a hijab by Muslim women does not form any essential form of practice in Islamic faith. The prescription of school uniforms is only a reasonable restriction and are constitutionally permissible which the students cannot object,” the bench said.

“In view of the above we are of the considered opinion that the government has power to issue the government order dated February 5, 2022 (restricting hijab in classrooms) and no case is made for its invalidation,” the bench noted.

The bench further observed, “We are of the considered opinion that no case is made out for issuance of direction of disciplinary action and warrants against the respondents. Therefore, the petition in this regard is rejected as not maintainable.

“Accordingly in above circumstances all these petitions are devoid of merits and liable to be dismissed, and all the pending applications are not maintainable and disposed of,” the bench underlined.

The bench after commencing the session said that keeping the holistic view of the entire matter, it has formulated a few questions and they have answered them.

“The questions which are formulated are whether wearing of hijab, headscarves is a part of essential religious practice in Islamic faith protected under Article 25 of the constitution?

“The second question is whether restriction of school uniforms is not legally permissible and being violative of petitions fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (a) freedom of expression and privacy?

“The third question whether government order dated February 5, 2022 apart from being incompetent is being issued without application of mind and further it is manifestedly arbitrary and therefore violates the Articles 13, 14 of the constitution?

“Whether any case is made out in the petition of issuance of direction initiating disciplinary enquiry and warrants against respondents? The special bench said.

As a precautionary measure security was beefed up across the state. Holiday was declared in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi and Shivamogga for schools and colleges.

Most of the districts imposed prohibitory orders in the surrounding areas of educational institutions. The Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant issued prohibitory orders restricting protests, celebrations and gatherings in the entire city for seven days from March 15.

The hijab row, which started as a protest by six students of the Udupi Pre-University Girl’s College, turned into a big crisis.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit and Justice Jaiunnesa Mohiyuddin Khaji heard the matter on a daily basis.

The counsels appearing for the petitioners contended that restriction on hijab to classrooms is a violation of fundamental rights and religious rights. There is no legal standing for the School Development Committee (SDC) or College Development Committee (CDMC), they said.

They also argued that wearing of hijab is an integral part of Islam. However, the Advocate General and other counsels appearing for the government argued that wearing of hijab is not an essential part of Islam. They have also stated that the government respects the wearing of hijab and it had been left to the discretion of SDMC and SDCs. It was also brought to the notice of the court that many Islamic and European countries have banned hijab.

Crime

Odisha: Drug-addicted son kills father after argument over de-addiction medication

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Bhubaneswar, July 28: Within 24 hours of the gruesome murder of a woman allegedly by her husband in the Chakeisiani area under Mancheswar police station limits, another brutal killing occurred in the same police station area of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with a 50-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by his drug-addicted son.

Police identified the victim as S. Duryadhan (50), while the accused, S. Debaraj (25), is his only son.

The deceased Duryadhan worked as a labour contractor.

Upon being informed, the police along with the scientific team immediately reached the crime spot and launched an investigation into the case.

Speaking to reporters, Biswaranjan Senapati, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone V), said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Debaraj killed his father following a dispute over his drug use.”

He also added that accused son was a habitual brown sugar addict and had earlier been admitted to a de-addiction centre by his father.

“Following medical advice, Duryodhan used to mix the prescribed de-addiction medicine into a bidi and ask his son to smoke it whenever he would ask for any normal cigarette or bidi. However, Debaraj disliked the arrangement and frequently engaged in heated arguments with his father over the issue,” Senapati said.

The ACP said a heated argument over the issue erupted on Monday night, forcing the accused’s mother and other family members to leave the house out of fear.

According to Senapati, only the father and son were at home on Tuesday morning when they again got into an argument after the victim offered his son a bidi containing the prescribed medicine, while the latter demanded a regular bidi.

Meanwhile, the accused suddenly went into a fury after Duryadhan insisted and attacked the victim with an iron pipe. He later bludgeoned his father with a stone.

“The family members also told us that the accused has a brain tumour and often gets furious all of a sudden. He has been detained at the police station and will be produced before the court later,” Senapati added.

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Crime

EOU conducts simultaneous raids in Jamui in Benami assets probe linked to Zila Parishad chairperson

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Patna, July 28: The Bihar Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Jamui as part of an investigation into alleged benami (proxy-owned) assets linked to Zila Parishad Chairperson Dulari Devi and her husband Guddu Yadav.

The operation was still underway at the time of filing this report.

According to an official, the EOU launched coordinated searches at the residences of Dulari Devi, Guddu Yadav, and four to five of their close associates.

The raids have attracted significant attention across the district.

The search operation is being conducted at several locations, including Guddu Yadav’s in-laws’ residence in Damarkola village under the Khaira police station area, his residence at the district headquarters, and the official Zila Parishad residence.

Investigators are examining documents, financial records, property-related papers, and other materials relevant to the probe.

Preliminary information indicates that the raids are part of an investigation into allegations of benami assets.

However, the EOU has not yet issued an official statement detailing the basis of the searches or the scope of the investigation.

The operation was continuing when this report was filed, and it remains unclear whether any incriminating documents, cash, valuables, or other evidence have been recovered.

Officials are expected to release further details after the search operation is completed.

Earlier on June 11, the EOU had conducted another raid at the properties of Manish Kumar — an accountant working at the Hajipur Municipal Council office in Vaishali — for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Preliminary investigations have revealed evidence of assets worth approximately Rs 2.02 crore in excess of his income.

According to the EOU, a case (Case No. 10/26, dated June 10, 2026) was registered against Manish Kumar at the Economic Offences Unit police station following the verification of information received from reliable sources.

The case has been registered under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).

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Crime

Delhi: Anti-narcotics squad busts illicit liquor stockpoint, arrests bootlegger with 16 cartons of Haryana-mark liquor

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New Delhi, July 28: The Anti-Narcotics Squad of South District Police has achieved a major success by apprehending a bootlegger and seizing a large quantity of Haryana-mark illicit liquor from his possession and residence in Sangam Vihar. A total of 16 cartons of liquor, including country liquor, whisky, and beer meant for sale only in Haryana, were recovered during the operation.

Following the seizure, a case was registered under the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 293/2026, dated July 24, under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act, was lodged at Police Station Sangam Vihar.

The operation was carried out by a team comprising Head Constable Manish, Head Constable Jaldhari, Head Constable Mukesh, Head Constable Jaiveer, and Constable Lokesh under the leadership of Inspector Mahender Dahiya, In-Charge of the Anti-Narcotics Squad. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of ACP/Operations, South District, Rituraj.

According to police, on July 24, the Anti-Narcotics Squad received specific Intelligence regarding the illegal storage and sale of Haryana-mark liquor in the Sangam Vihar area. Acting promptly on the information, the team laid a trap near F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, and apprehended the accused, identified as Ajay, while he was allegedly found in possession of illicit liquor outside his residence.

Subsequently, a search of the accused’s house led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of illegal liquor. The entire consignment was seized, and the accused was arrested after completing all necessary legal formalities. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the liquor and identify others involved in the supply network.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had allegedly stocked Haryana-mark liquor at his residence and was supplying it illegally in Delhi for financial gain while violating the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.

The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay (42), son of Chhotu Lal, a resident of F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Police records show that he was previously involved in a similar case registered under the Delhi Excise Act at Sangam Vihar Police Station.

The recovered liquor included 321 quarters (six cartons) of Masaledar Desi Sharab marked “For Sale in Haryana Only”, 227 quarters (five cartons) of whisky, 36 bottles (three cartons) of beer, and 47 beer cans (two cartons). In total, 16 cartons of Haryana-mark illicit liquor were seized during the operation.

Police officials said the Intelligence-based action has dealt a significant blow to the illegal liquor trade in the area. Efforts are continuing to trace the source of the contraband, dismantle the supply chain, and identify other individuals involved in the racket.

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