Hijab ban in classrooms will continue: Karnataka minister

BENGALURU/UDUPI: The Karnataka government on Thursday reacted to the Supreme Court's split verdict on hijab saying the ban on headscarves will continue inside the PU (pre-university) classrooms even as a representative of the Muslim petitioners said they were hopeful of a "clear and positive" final judgment.
"The Karnataka Education Act does not permit any religious items inside the classrooms. We're clear that hijab will not be allowed inside the classes of Karnataka," said state primary and secondary education minister BC Nagesh. "As a democratic government, we welcome the SC judgment though we had expected a better judgment. Throughout the world, women are protesting against wearing hijab or burqa. We expected the Karnataka HC order to be upheld, but we are not disappointed," he said.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said: "The final verdict on the hijab row is very important as its impact is not restricted to Karnataka but on the entire country...Since it involves national and international issues, the government is expecting a clear verdict from the court."
Nagesh said there will be no fresh circulars and the old ones will be followed. "The Karnataka government is not saying you cannot wear hijab at all. The Education Act passed in 1986 says you don't have the right to practise your religion in a classroom. Every citizen of Karnataka has to follow the rule framed under this act. The high court gave a clear judgment after hearing the case argued by reputed counsel on both sides. We had a unanimous judgment. Naturally, I had expected the judgement would be upheld," he said.
Higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayan said the government had prescribed "uniform as mandatory dress code for all students" and this policy will stay.
Speaking on behalf of six petitioners from three different colleges in Udupi, Hussain Kodi Bengre, president, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, said: "We are waiting for a clear and positive verdict. Most of the girls who fought for their rights to wear the hijab inside the classroom have discontinued their studies for the time being, and are waiting for the final verdict."
He said the observations made by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia - that the foremost question on his mind was the education of the girl child - instilled hope and positivity among the petitioners. "We will wait for the final and clear verdict, and we have full faith in the judicial system."
The Government PU College for Girls in Udupi is considered the epicentre of the hijab controversy, which began with six girls in the last week of December 2021 refusing to enter the classroom without their hijab. One of the student's mother said that she has sent her daughter to her aunt's house to avoid the media. "We would not like to comment on the issue for the time being," she said, adding that her daughter had discontinued her studies, since the last academic year.
BJP MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, who is also the chairman of the college development committee of Government PU College for Girls in Udupi, said a majority of Muslim students have no problem sitting inside the classroom without hijab. "Those opposed are the ones trying to create a rift in society. Once they called for a bandh, the Hindus were upset, following which they restricted Muslims from participating in temple fares and the halal issue also cropped up. Such differences did not exist in society earlier. I appeal to the students to respect the court's verdict," he said.