Bengaluru: High schools are reopens the across the state, the Karnataka government had closed both high schools and PU Colleges after hijab and saffron controversy triggered across the state.

Before reopening the high schools, the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has held a video conference with Deputy Commissioners, Superintendent of Police, Deputy Directors of Public Instructions (DDPI) , directed them to take precautionary measures and allow smooth functioning of classes.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that “I have conducted meeting with DCs,SPs and DDPIs, asked them to conduct peace meeting in all districts with all stakeholders. I have confident that, classes will run smoothly without any disturbance. After reviewing the situation, government will take a decision to reopen colleges”, he said.

High Schools and College were closed in Karnataka on February 9^th following hijab and saffron controversy triggered and students involved in protest.

The state government will decided to reopen the colleges after seeing the High Court proceedings, said sources.

The state government has announced that the closure of educational institutions for universities of the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE) has been extended till February 16.

The police have imposed 144 sections in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga district. Since Udupi is epicenter of Hijab controversy, the Chief Minister has directed the district administration to keep more vigil in coastal district.

Following interim order restraining all students wearing hijabs, scarron clad, the state government ordered district authorities to ensure that stuednts should wear unfiroms in classrooms. 

Meanwhile the three judge bench of the Karnataka High Court headed by Ritu Raj Awasti will resume the hearing of the batch of petitions seeking allow to wear hijabs in colleges.

High Court interim order

On February 11, the three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court has passed an interim order restraining all the students from wearing scarfs, hijab, saffron shawls, or religious flags within the classrooms.

The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi has further observed that the interim order is confined to the institutions where the college development committees have prescribed the student dress code or uniform.

The bench has requested the state government and all stakeholders to reopen the educational institutions and allow the students to return to the classes at the earliest. The state government has ordered to close the high schools and colleges for three days after hijab row gets widespread protest in colleges across the state.

The bench further observed that “Ours being a civilized society, no person in the name of religion, culture or the like can be permitted to do any act that disturbs public peace and tranquility”.

“Endless agitations and closure of educational institutions indefinitely are not happy things to happen. The hearing of these matters on an urgency basis is continuing. Elongation of academic terms would be detrimental to the educational career of students especially when the timelines for admission to higher studies/courses are mandatory”, the three-judge bench observed.