Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Friday turned down a plea for an immediate listing of pleas seeking a directive to government institutions in Karnataka to allow students to appear for examinations wearing the hijab. “I will list it immediately after the Holi vacation. I will create a bench,” the CJI told a lawyer, who mentioned the matter. The Supreme Court closes for the Holi break on March 6 and will reopen on March 13.

The lawyer pointed out that the exams are starting on March 9. “What can I do if you come on the last day?” the CJI asked the lawyer, who responded by saying the requests for a hearing were mentioned twice over the last two months. “I will form a bench. I will list the matter,” the CJI reiterated. But the lawyer asked: “What about the exams?” “I can’t answer your questions,” retorted the CJI. On February 22, the CJI said he would “take a call” soon on setting up a three-judge bench to take up the matter in view of a split verdict of the two judges of the previous bench in October 2022 after a group of students from Karnataka mentioned a similar plea. Another plea for listing the matter was made on January 23.

The pleas have pointed out that the exams are commencing from March 9 but those wearing hijab would not be allowed inside the examination centres due to the state government’s ban on the headscarves in state-run institutions.