More than one-and-a-half years after coming to power, the Congress government has made no decision regarding allowing students to wear the hijab to educational institutions.
School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said on Monday, January 3, that the state government had not yet taken any decision on the issue as the case is being heard by the Supreme Court. He said that there would be more clarity on the issue after he discussed it with Home Minister G Parameshwara.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said many times in the past that the government would withdraw the government order banning the hijab.
The government’s inaction affects the education of many students who have been suspended from their schools and colleges, or have dropped out due to the restrictions. Students may lose more time as year-end exams are around the corner.
The issue started in December 2021, when six hijab-wearing students were denied entry to their college in Udupi district. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), the RSS’ student arm and other Hindutva groups carried out a campaign, demanding that if hijabs are allowed in college, so should saffron shawls.
On February 5, 2022, the BJP government banned the wearing of hijabs by issuing an order stating that students must adhere to the dress code prescribed by the educational institution.
This order was challenged in the Karnataka High Court which upheld it. The petitioners then approached the Supreme Court, where a two-judge bench delivered a split verdict on October 13, 2022. The matter will now be heard by a larger bench.
