The advocate general also argued that a ban on hijab does not violate the freedom to practice and profess a religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.
An open letter that was endorsed by more than 700 people says the ban is "not a novel or an isolated incident, but must be acknowledged to be part of the communal polarisation in Karnataka and across the country".
The petitioners said that the state cannot take the facile ground that "public order is disrupted". It has to create a positive environment to facilitate the exercise of fundamental rights.