Karnataka Students With Hijab Turned Away, Court's Interim Order Cited

Even as the Karnataka High Court hears arguments on allowing religious clothing in educational institutions, another government college in the state has turned into a site of protest for sending away students who insisted on wearing the hijab (headscarf) in classrooms. The Government PU college at Vijayapura in north Karnataka, which allowed hijabs earlier, did not allow students wearing hijabs to enter the classrooms today. The college administration argued that they were only following interim orders of the court, which had allowed schools and colleges to resume only on the condition that no religious clothing be allowed in classrooms. The students, however, say the college did not inform them that they would not be allowed in hijabs or burkhas. 

Dramatic visuals from the college show some students who had entered the classroom in hijabs and burkhas arguing with the teacher and the Principal of the school requesting them to follow the court order. 

"We are in accordance with the High Court's order that says no religious garment, whether hijab or saffron shawls, will be allowed inside educational institutions," the Principal can be heard saying. 

After a squabble, a separate space inside the college was allotted to these students to take off their hijabs and burkhas, and enter the classrooms.

The Principal had stopped these students at the entrance of the college but they forced their way in and protested against being denied entry. 

After they were asked to leave, the students protested by raising slogans of "we want justice" and expressing their anguish to the media present at the spot. 

Some women police personnel could also be seen at the spot in the videos from the college. 

On February 14, students at some Karnataka schools were directed to remove their hijabs before entering the campus, in accordance with an interim High Court order that said educational institutions could re-open (after having been shut last week) but no religious clothing would be allowed.

Videos of women being asked to remove their religious clothing in the open had caused a massive outcry on social media with many calling it a "humiliating" experience as several women were seen taking off the hijabs and burqas on the side of the street.

Controversy over Muslim students barred from wearing the hijab began in December after six girls from Karnataka's Udupi district voiced their concerns. They then approached the High Court.

Since then it has snowballed into a significant matter, with the Supreme Court also approached.

However, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said: "We will interfere only at an appropriate time."

Protests have escalated rapidly over the past few weeks; last week a young student in Mandya was heckled by saffron-waving male aggressors shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'.

Separately there were also incidents of stone-throwing and police firing teargas to break up crowds.