Protests intensified against banning hijab in classrooms
On Thursday reports also came from several districts, where degree colleges have refused the Muslim students to attend the classes wearing hijabs. But in degree colleges, there are no uniform rules.
Bengaluru: Muslim girls have intensified their protest against the banning of hijabs in the classrooms. The girls have been sent home by the college management for refusing to remove the hijab for the fourth consecutive day.
Schools and colleges have strictly followed the interim order of the High Court which directed restraining all the students regardless of their religion or faith 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.
However, schools, colleges strictly implement the High Court order despite the college management committee have not prescribed the uniform.
On Thursday reports also came from several districts, where degree colleges have refused the Muslim students to attend the classes wearing hijabs. But in degree colleges, there are no uniform rules.
Several incidents have been reported that students have unyielding to remove the hijabs and returned to home after college managements refused them to enter the colleges.
In Bidar, many students have abstained from attending classes. Police have given additional security to the college.
In Udupi, which is the epicentre of hijab row, students have decided to return to the college only after the final verdict of the High Court in the matter. In many colleges in Udupi, students have not turned up to the colleges.
MGP college has postponed the PUC practical exams due to hijab row, MGM college has witnessed a big protest a few days back. Both Hindu and Muslim community students had protested over hijab vs saffron. To avoid any untoward incident, the college management has postponed the practical exams.
In Bellary, Shivamogga, Belagavi, and Kolar hijab rows continued, students are adamant that they will not attend the classes without hijabs. They argued that wearing hijabs is their religious right and no one has the right to infringe that right.
However, in Raichur, one student has given a dissenting statement on the hijab row. She said that education is more important than wearing hijabs. Raichur S.S.R.G college student said that hijab will protect her at the same time education also provide security to her life, she said.
There was high drama prevailed in DVS college in Shivamogga college. Muslim boys have supported the cause of Muslim girl students and joined with them in protest.
In Dharwad, additional police forces have been deployed at college premises. Police have imposed 144 sections and police have sent both parents and students home.
High Court interim order.
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 urgent 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.
“The interest of students would be better served by their returning to the classes than by the continuation of agitations and consequent closure of institutions. The academic year is coming to an end shortly. We hope and trust that all stakeholders and the public at large shall maintain peace and tranquility”, the court said in the interim order.
