ANOTHER PETITION AGAINST HIJAB BAN IN KARNATAKA COLLEGES

Another petition has been moved by two Muslim students pursuing BBA at Bhandarkar College of Art and Science in Kundapura before the Karnataka High Court against the Hijab ban in Karnataka colleges. 

The petitioners informed that they have been wearing their headscarf over their uniform since they joined the college. They were told that there was a Government order against wearing a headscarf. There is a provision in the college rulebook allowing Muslim students to wear headscarves. They claimed that on 3 February 2022, the college principal and staff did not allow the petitioners to enter the college and attend classes.

On being questioned by the parents of some of the students, the principal said that they were under political pressure from Halady Srinivas Shetty (a local MLA), under whose orders the college had to act. 

Thereafter, every day the Muslim students are being denied entry into the college. Moreover, the college has deputed local police at the college to prevent the students from entering the college premises.

The petitioners argued that throwing out Muslim students due to headscarves denies them their fundamental right to education. The headscarf is an essential practice of their religious culture and is protected under Article 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution of India. 

The petitioners lastly sought interim relief from Justice Krishna S Dixit, as it is negatively impacting their education.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal