Karnataka Govt: No Hijab In Minority Institutions?

The Karnataka govt issued a circular on February 16 stating that the high court proposal of no religious garments in educational institutions applies to all minority institutions run under the state government.

Major P Manivannan, Secretary for Minority Welfare, Haj, and Wakf Department, announced that the interim order of the full bench of the Karnataka High Court also applies to residential schools run by the Minority Welfare Department and Moulana Azad Model Schools (English medium).

The order effectively bans the use of hijab in minority institutions as the uniform for students in some minority institutions is hijab itself. According to the govt order, students can come to campus wearing hijab but cannot attend classes.

Minority Welfare Department-run educational institutions are forbidden to allow hijabs, scarves, saffron shawls, and other religious symbols in the classroom.

"We request the state government and all stakeholders to reopen the educational institutions and allow the students to return to classes as soon as possible. Pending consideration of all these petitions, we restrain all students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls (Bhagwa), scarves, hijab, religious flags, or the like within the classroom until further orders," the order read.