Hijab Row: Students return to campus, hijab not allowed in classroom

At Udupi, the district where the row began, a Government First Grade College did not allow around 20 students wearing hijab into the classrooms today. Many students returned home while some waited on campus.

 

Pre-University and degree colleges in Karnataka today reopened with high security in sensitive areas after being closed over hijab row. At Udupi, the district where the row began, a Government First Grade College did not allow around 20 students wearing hijab into the classrooms today. Many students returned home while some waited on campus.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court urged to direct the government to allow students to wear the hijab in classes as more students remained out in schools across the state, refusing to shun the head covering. Teachers have also turned out students who came to attend classes with skull caps. Many students chose to be absent as hijab-wearing students were not allowed into schools.

Karnataka Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan had earlier issued a clarification that there is no ban on wearing hijab in degree colleges since they have no prescribed uniform. The row had erupted in pre-university colleges with a section of Muslim girl students being barred from wearing hijab in classrooms. A section of Hindu boys had insisted on wearing saffron shawls if hijabs could be allowed in classrooms. The matter of dress code is currently being heard by the Karnataka High Court.

The protests in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district claimed that they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab. The pre-university education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

However, protests from Muslim girls forced the state to shut schools and colleges for almost a week.

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