Karnataka Hijab row: SOPs for head scarves in schools likely; HC hearing to resume tomorrow | Top points
India Today
Karnataka government is likely to bring new guidelines on hijab in schools based on high court proposal till the matter is with the court. New guidelines will allow students to enter schools and then remove hijab instead of forcing them to do it outside the school gate. Here are the top points.
After nearly a week of protests and violence, high schools in Karnataka reopened on Monday, amid prohibitory orders in Udupi and Bengaluru. The government has decided to open schools and colleges in a phased manner after a high court proposal banning religious garments in educational institutions, till the matter is pending with the court.
Meanwhile, the petitioners against the hijab ban argued their side in the high court today, stating that colleges cannot decide on such a ban as they do not have any legal basis. The high court will take up the matter for further hearing tomorrow. Here are the top developments.
In Udupi district, the epicentre of pro and anti-hijab protests, all high schools that reopened witnessed normal attendance. Muslim girl students who reached the school campuses wearing hijabs were asked to remove them before entering classes. Udupi Tahsildar Pradeep Kurudekar told PTI that there were no reports of Hindu students turning up in saffron shawls.
Police personnel have been posted in Udupi town and near the schools to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, Commerce students of the second Pre-University Course (PUC) at the government high school in Udupi, submitted a memorandum to the school demanding that offline classes be started at the earliest.
However, a decision regarding reopening of Pre-University and Degree colleges will be taken later.
An argument broke out between parents and a teacher outside Rotary school in Karnataka’s Mandya after the students were asked to take off the hijab, or headscarf, before entering the campus.
