On February 10 High Court Karnataka gave an order that prohibits students from wearing any kind of religious symbols like hijab inside the campus. However, the rule applies only to schools and colleges that have prescribed uniforms.
In Assembly CM Basavaraj Bommai said, “The high court order will not be followed in all colleges. HC has said only colleges where uniforms are prescribed, a ban will apply.”
During Zero Hour of the assembly Congress MLA Siddaramaiah raised a question that why muslim girls are not allowed to wear hijab in colleges. He also looked for a clarification for BJP Government over statement given by Dr CN Ashwathnarayan Higher Education Minister. According to statement, the ban on wearing hijab by High Court Order will not be applicable in degree colleges.
CM Bommai gave clarification that the order is only applicable to pre university colleges where head gear does not comes under prescribed uniform.
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Karnataka High Court order said, “all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa) scarfs, hijab, religious flags or the like, within the classroom, until further orders. It is confined to such institutions wherein the College Development Committees have prescribed the student dress code/uniform.”
There was confusion among people that whether order to ban hijab was for all colleges and schools in Karnataka or was it limited to pre university colleges. In many districts of Karnataka degree college students had to face the problem.
Few days back a peace meeting was conducted to reduce the communal tension that has been going on in the state. The meeting concluded that students are free to wear whatever they want if there school has no dress code. Department of Undergraduate Education Karnataka does not mandate uniforms in its colleges but there are certain institutes that do have dress codes.
The idea of peace meeting was inducted by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who instructed police, school administration and district officials to conduct peace committee meetings at district level. The meeting held in Udupi was attended by senior police and district officials, parents, political and religious leaders.
