Hijab row: Karnataka schools to open in phased manner from Monday
India Today
The Karnataka government has decided to open high schools in the state from Monday, February 14.
The Karnataka government has decided to open high schools in the state from Monday, February 14. The government has decided to open schools and colleges in a phased manner amidst growing protests over the hijab issue.
As part of the first phase of reopening, students of classes 1 to 10 can attend schools. An announcement regarding the opening up of schools for classes 11 and above will be made later.
Karnataka Chief Minister Bommai will hold a meeting with all ministers tomorrow, February 11, at 5 pm to discuss the issue. Along with district collectors, police officials and education department officials will also be present at the meeting.
Colleges in Karnataka can reopen but students cannot be allowed to wear any piece of clothing that is religious till the matter is pending, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court said on Thursday.
A three-judge bench of the Karnataka HC was hearing petitions challenging the state government's ban on the wearing of 'hijabs' by students in college. The high court will hear the matter next at 2.30 pm on Monday.
The controversy first erupted in December last year after students of a government college in Karnataka's Udupi started coming to the campus wearing 'hijabs'. Soon after, other students started wearing saffron scarves to college as a mark of protest against headscarves.
This led to protests in parts of Karnataka, some of which reportedly took a violent turn.
